Slow Cooker Creamy Basil Chicken

 

 

When I was in the UK, I   frequently would use my slow cooker on Sundays so that when we arrived home from church our dinner was pretty much ready except for a few minor details.

I have gotten myself a small slow cooker to use here in Canada and this week I thought I would use it to make myself a simple dinner for after church.   

 

I am usually starving when I get home and having something ready to eat means I won't be as tempted to grab something to eat that I shouldn't.   

I had pinned this Slow Cooker Creamy Basil Chicken recipe from a site called The Recipe Rebel some time back.   It looked delicious.

 

I am not normally a person who enjoys chicken that has been cooked in the slow cooker.  Its something about the consistency of it, but occasionally I do see a recipe that I will like to try.  This one appealed for a few reasons.

One was the minimal number of ingredients and preparation. Two was the cook time.  I have found that the longer chicken is cooked in the slow cooker, the less I like it. This one cooks in 3 to 4 hours.  (Mine was done in 3.)

 

I did make a few changes to the recipe. One, I adapted it to be Fodmap friendly.  I left out the garlic and I used lactose free heavy cream.

Two, I reduced the quantity of things to make only two servings.  I chose to use plain diced tomatoes in tomato juice, rather than diced tomatoes with Italian herbs so that I could control exactly what went into the sauce. No peppers, no onions, no garlic.

 

By all means if you do not have gut issues use chopped tomatoes with Italian herbs. I also used a fodmap friendly marinara sauce.

It also has no onions and garlic. If you don't have a problem with these you can use a regular one.  I have found that onions and garlic are a trigger for me. 

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SLOW COOKER CREAMY BASIL CHICKEN

Very simple ingredients.  There is nothing complicated here.

• 1 cup (160g) chopped tomatoes in tomato juice, undrained
• 1/3 cup (75g) marinara sauce
• 1/3 cup (80ml) heavy cream (can use evaporated milk)
• 1 TBS cornstarch (corn flour)
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp dry Italian salad mix
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 TBS finely chopped fresh basil

To serve:

• grated parmesan cheese (optional)

 

I have found that I can tolerate very small amounts of grated hard cheese and so I did grate a tiny bit of good hard Parmesan over top of my chicken and sauce.

Gut issues are no fun.  If you don't feel good in your gut, you just feel unwell altogether. I am learning that its just not worth it to eat things which cause me problems no matter how much I enjoy them. 

 

HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER CREAMY BASIL CHICKEN

One thing I really like about using a slow cooker is that there is no faffing about with browning things or the like. Just pop everything in and let the slow cooker and time do its work. 

I used a small slow cooker for this recipe. I think it holds about 1 1/2  quart/litre  altogether, so it is perfect for cooking for just one or two people.

 

Add the undrained tomatoes, marinara sauce, cream, corn starch, garlic, dried basil, dried oregano, Italian dressing mix, salt and black pepper to the slow cooker. 

Whisk well together until the cornstarch is melted into the mixture. Add the chicken breasts, pushing them down into the sauce.

 

Cover tightly and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. When done the chicken should be cooked through, the juices run clear and register an internal temperature of 165*F/74*C.

Stir in the fresh basil and serve the chicken and sauce over pasta, rice or with a salad and some veggies. I like to sprinkle the top with  a bit of  Parmesan cheese.

I have quite a few delicious slow cooker recipes on here that you might be interested in trying!  

Slow Cooker Beef Tacos -   They are as simple to make as throwing some meat, onions, seasoning and broth into a slow cooker in the morning.Crock Pot Shredded Beef Tacos are easy to make and absolutely delicious! 

Slow Cooker Potato and Ham Chowder - A soup which is creamy and has a high potato content to me, is a chowder. Soup or chowder, however you choose to name it, this is one delicious pot of flavours. 

Braised Brisket with Stout and Onions - Tender chunks of beef in a beautifully flavored gravy. Fabulous spooned over mashed potatoes.

This chicken dish was rich and creamy and was enjoyed sliced and spooned over top of some gluten free pasta. I would so have loved to enjoy it with some buttered crusty bread but at the moment that is a big no no!

Slow Cooker Creamy Basil Chicken

Yield: 2

Author: Marie Rayner

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 4 MinTotal time: 9 Min

Its amazing what you can make with only a few ingredients. This easy, tender, and saucy chicken goes very well with pasta, rice or with a salad or vegetables on the side.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (160g) chopped tomatoes in tomato juice, undrained
• 1/3 cup (75g) marinara sauce
• 1/3 cup (80ml) heavy cream (can use evaporated milk)
• 1 TBS cornstarch (corn flour)
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp dry Italian salad mix
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 TBS finely chopped fresh basil

To serve:

• grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

1. Have ready a small slow cooker/crock pot. (1 1/2 to 3 litre)
2. Add the undrained tomatoes, marinara sauce, cream, corn starch, garlic, dried basil, dried oregano, Italian dressing mix, salt and black pepper. Whisk well together until the cornstarch is melted into the mixture.
3. Add the chicken breasts, pushing them down into the sauce.
4. Cover tightly and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. When done the chicken should be cooked through, the juices run clear and register an internal temperature of 165*F/74*C.
5. Stir in the fresh basil and serve the chicken and sauce over pasta, rice or with a salad and some veggies. I like to sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese.

Did you make this recipe?

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