Creamy Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken
Imagine coming home to the aroma of garlic, herbs, and sun-dried tomatoes simmering away, promising a dinner that tastes like a luxurious Italian getaway. That dream can be your reality with this Creamy Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken. It’s one of those magical recipes where your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting, transforming simple ingredients into an unbelievably rich and flavorful meal.
We start by giving our chicken a quick sear for maximum flavor, then let it simmer gently in the slow cooker with aromatic garlic, intensely flavorful sun-dried tomatoes, and Italian herbs. Just before serving, we stir in some cream, Parmesan cheese, and fresh spinach to create the most luscious, velvety sauce imaginable. A final squeeze of lemon brightens everything up beautifully. Serve it over pasta, polenta, or even just with crusty bread – it’s pure comfort in a bowl.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Set-It-and-Forget-It Easy: After a quick sear, the slow cooker takes over, making this perfect for a busy day.
- Incredible Restaurant-Quality Flavor: The combination of sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, herbs, cream, and Parmesan creates a sauce that tastes incredibly rich and complex.
- Tender, Juicy Chicken Every Time: Slow cooking ensures the chicken becomes perfectly tender and soaks up all the delicious flavors of the sauce.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s make some slow cooker magic. Here’s how.First, gather your flavor-packed ingredients. Sun-dried tomatoes are the star here!
Next, give your chicken a quick sear. This step is optional but highly recommended! Browning the chicken first adds a huge layer of savory flavor to the finished dish.
Now, build your flavor base in the slow cooker. Add the broth, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and herbs. Nestle your seared chicken right into that delicious mixture.
Let the slow cooker work its magic. Cover and let it simmer away until the chicken is perfectly tender and infused with all those amazing flavors.
Finally, finish with creaminess and greens. Just before serving, stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and fresh spinach until the spinach wilts into the luscious sauce.
 A final squeeze of lemon, and dinner is served!
Ava’s Notes
- Oil-Packed Sun-Dried Tomatoes are Best: Look for sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil – they have the best flavor and texture for this sauce. Don’t drain them too thoroughly; a little of that flavorful oil is great in the dish!
- Don’t Skip the Sear (If You Can!): Searing the chicken adds so much depth. If you’re really short on time you can skip it, but I promise it’s worth the extra 5 minutes!
- What to Serve with It? This is amazing over pasta (like fettuccine or pappardelle), creamy polenta, mashed potatoes, or simply served with lots of crusty bread for soaking up every last drop of that incredible sauce.
Creamy Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken
4-6
servings15
minutes2-3 hours (high) 4-6 hours (low)
Tender chicken breasts simmered in a rich, creamy sauce flavored with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and Parmesan. An easy, restaurant-quality meal made in your slow cooker.
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Ingredients
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tbsp olive oil
1 c chicken broth
1/2 c chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, plus 1 tbsp of their oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1/2 c heavy cream
1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
2 c fresh baby spinach
1/2 lemon, juiced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- Sear Chicken (Optional but Recommended): Pat the chicken breasts dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden brown. Transfer the seared chicken to the insert of your slow cooker.
- Combine Ingredients: Pour the chicken broth into the slow cooker. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes (with their oil), minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. Stir gently. Nestle the chicken breasts into the liquid.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Finish the Sauce: Remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and set aside (you can shred them or leave them whole). Stir the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce remaining in the slow cooker until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Stir in the fresh baby spinach until it wilts. Stir in the fresh lemon juice.
- Serve: Return the chicken (whole or shredded) to the sauce and toss to coat. Serve the creamy Tuscan chicken hot, garnished with a final “sprinkle” of fresh parsley. Serve over pasta, polenta, or with crusty bread.
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