Imagine coming home to a kitchen filled with the irresistible aroma of creamy, sun-dried tomato chicken that's been slowly simmering all day. This Italian-inspired slow cooker recipe is about to become your new weeknight dinner hero - delivering restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort. Perfect for busy home cooks who refuse to compromise on taste, this dish transforms simple chicken breasts into a luxurious, creamy masterpiece that will have everyone asking for seconds!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 6 hrs
Total Time: 6 hrs 10 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 cup sun dried tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken breasts by patting them dry with paper towels and seasoning generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning on both sides.
- Chop the sun-dried tomatoes into small, bite-sized pieces, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the sauce.
- Place the seasoned chicken breasts into the slow cooker, arranging them in a single layer to ensure even cooking.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, heavy cream, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes until well combined.
- Pour the creamy sun-dried tomato mixture over the chicken breasts, making sure they are mostly covered by the liquid.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat, cooking for 5-6 hours until the chicken is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- Once cooking is complete, carefully remove the chicken breasts and shred them using two forks, or slice into thick pieces.
- Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir to coat with the creamy sun-dried tomato sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve hot over pasta, rice, or with a side of roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
Tips
- Pat the chicken breasts completely dry before seasoning to ensure maximum flavor absorption and better browning.
- For an extra flavor boost, consider lightly toasting your Italian seasoning in a dry pan for 30 seconds before adding it to the chicken.
- Use high-quality sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil for the most intense flavor profile.
- If your sauce seems too thin at the end of cooking, you can thicken it by mixing a tablespoon of cornstarch with cold water and stirring it into the sauce.
- For a lighter version, you can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, though the sauce will be slightly less rich.
- To prevent overcooking, start checking the chicken's tenderness around the 5-hour mark, as slow cookers can vary in temperature.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving to add a pop of color and fresh herb flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 520kcal
Carbohydrates: 8g
Protein: 45g
Fat: 35g
Saturated Fat: 20g
Cholesterol: 160mg
