Description
A creamy, garlicky, and savory slow cooker chicken dish featuring sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. This easy weeknight dinner requires minimal prep and delivers restaurant-quality flavor with simple cleanup.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 pound pasta (penne or rigatoni) for serving
Instructions
- Chop sun-dried tomatoes and mince garlic. Measure out cream and broth.
- Place chicken breasts in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. If large, cut in half. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Scatter chopped sun-dried tomatoes and minced garlic over the chicken. Pour in chicken broth. Do not stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours until chicken is tender and shreds easily.
- Remove chicken from pot and shred using two forks. Pour cooking liquid into a bowl.
- Optional: Blend half of the liquid for a smoother sauce. Stir in heavy cream and half of the Parmesan cheese into the liquid.
- Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir to coat with the sauce.
- Stir in fresh spinach and let it wilt for about 2 minutes using residual heat. Stir in remaining Parmesan cheese.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Serve immediately over cooked pasta.
Notes
[‘Use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, not dry ones, for best flavor.’, ‘Add spinach at the very end to prevent it from turning brown or slimy.’, ‘Shred the chicken rather than slicing it to help it absorb the sauce better.’, ‘If the sauce is too thin, simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or use a cornstarch slurry.’, ‘This recipe does not freeze well due to the dairy content; store in fridge for up to 4 days.’, ‘For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker, creamy chicken, tuscan chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, easy dinner, weeknight meals, comfort food, one pot meal