Description
Savory slow cooker Tuscan chicken delivers creamy, herb-infused comfort from Italian culinary traditions. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, promising a satisfying meal that connects home cooks with Mediterranean flavors you’ll eagerly anticipate.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for optional searing)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water (optional, for thickening)
- Cooked pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Seasoning: Thoroughly coat chicken breasts with a harmonious blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian herbs, massaging the seasonings into the meat for maximum flavor infusion.
- Layering: Arrange seasoned chicken in a single layer within the slow cooker, strategically positioning sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach leaves to create a robust flavor foundation.
- Sauce Preparation: Craft a silky sauce by whisking cream cheese, chicken broth, and heavy cream until completely smooth and uniform in texture.
- Cooking Process: Cascade the creamy sauce over the chicken and vegetables, ensuring complete coverage, then seal the slow cooker and set to low heat for 4-5 hours, allowing ingredients to transform and develop deep, complex flavors.
- Finishing Touches: Delicately shred the chicken using two forks, letting it absorb the rich sauce, then crown the dish with freshly grated parmesan cheese for an additional layer of savory complexity.
- Serving: Present the Tuscan chicken atop al dente pasta or fluffy rice, garnishing with additional fresh spinach leaves to enhance visual appeal and provide a crisp, fresh contrast to the creamy protein.
Notes
- Optimize Seasoning Technique: Thoroughly blend and massage seasonings into chicken for maximum flavor penetration and even coating.
- Layer Ingredients Strategically: Create a single chicken layer with vegetables distributed evenly to ensure consistent cooking and flavor distribution.
- Monitor Moisture Levels: Check chicken periodically to prevent overcooking; creamy sauce helps maintain moisture and tenderness.
- Adapt for Dietary Needs: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk for dairy-free version, or use Greek yogurt for lower-fat alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours (high) / 6-7 hours (low)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 43 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg