Creamy Tuscan Chicken in Slow Cooker Recipe
This Rich Crockpot Tuscan Chicken is a creamy, flavorful slow-cooked dish featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a luscious sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and fresh spinach. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal, this recipe delivers rich Italian-inspired flavors with minimal effort, thanks to the convenience of the slow cooker.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 4 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2 lbs, patted dry)
For the chicken seasoning:
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
For the sauce:
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed preferred)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream (preferably Kerrygold)
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare and Season Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and place them in a 3- to 4-quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1/8 tsp pepper, and 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning. Sprinkle this seasoning mixture evenly over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the heavy whipping cream, cornstarch, minced garlic, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper until smooth. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, mixing thoroughly to create a rich, flavorful sauce.
- Combine Sauce and Chicken: Pour the creamy sauce mixture evenly over the seasoned chicken in the slow cooker, ensuring the chicken is well coated by the sauce.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for about 3 hours, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. If the sauce separates during cooking, gently stir it to smooth it out.
- Add Spinach and Final Seasoning: Stir the fresh spinach into the hot sauce and chicken in the slow cooker until the spinach wilts. Taste the dish and adjust seasonings as needed. Remove the chicken and sauce to serve.
- Serve with Garnish: For an extra touch of freshness and flavor, sprinkle a few extra shavings of Parmesan cheese on top just before serving.
Notes
- Using oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes adds more richness to the sauce, but you can use dry-packed by rehydrating them first.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is recommended for best flavor and texture; pre-grated cheese may not melt as well.
- If the sauce separates while cooking, simply stir it gently to bring it back together.
- Serve this dish over rice, pasta, or with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
- Make sure to check the chicken’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure it is fully cooked and safe to eat.
