Description
A simple, set-and-forget slow cooker recipe featuring tender chicken breasts in a rich, creamy garlic sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. Perfect for busy weeknights with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 6 to 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 0.5 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 2 to 3 cups fresh spinach, packed
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry and season generously with salt, pepper, and half of the Italian seasoning. Place chicken in the bottom of a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together heavy cream, softened cream cheese, minced garlic, remaining Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes until combined.
- Pour the cream mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker, ensuring the chicken is mostly covered. Add a splash more broth if needed.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-8 hours, until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and is tender.
- Turn slow cooker to WARM or LOW. Stir in drained sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach. Let residual heat wilt the spinach for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese if using. Adjust consistency with milk or broth if too thick, or let sit uncovered on WARM for 15 minutes if too thin.
- Serve immediately over egg noodles, rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread.
Notes
For best results, use room temperature cream cheese to ensure it melts smoothly. Drain sun-dried tomatoes well to prevent a greasy sauce. Add spinach at the very end to keep it vibrant green. This recipe is naturally gluten-free; just ensure your Italian seasoning and broth are GF. Do not freeze, as the dairy may separate upon thawing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours (HIGH) or 6-8 hours (LOW)
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece of chicken w
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: crockpot chicken, tuscan chicken, creamy garlic chicken, slow cooker dinner, easy weeknight meals, one pot meal, gluten-free dinner