Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken: A Comforting Italian-Inspired Meal

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Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken is a tasty meal you can make with little effort. You just need chicken, cream sauce, and some tasty add-ins. This dish cooks slowly for 3-5 hours, letting the flavors blend perfectly.

You’ll love the rich, creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. It’s great over rice or pasta. This recipe is perfect for busy days when you want a yummy dinner without much work.

Exact Ingredients (+ Possible Substitutes)

Tuscan chicken is a tasty dish you can make in your slow cooker. Here are the key ingredients you’ll need and some options to swap things out if needed.

Main Ingredients

For this recipe, you’ll want:

• 4 boneless chicken breasts
• 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup artichoke hearts, quartered
• 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups fresh spinach

These ingredients give the dish its classic Tuscan flavor. The chicken cooks until tender in a creamy sauce with veggies and cheese.

Substitute Options

Can’t find something? Try these swaps:

• Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for more flavor
• Swap spinach for kale or Swiss chard
• Replace sun-dried tomatoes with fresh cherry tomatoes
• Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream to cut calories
• Try rotini or penne pasta instead of serving over rice
• For a low-carb version, use zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice

You can also add mushrooms or onions for extra taste. Feel free to adjust the spices to your liking.

Instructions

First, heat a skillet over medium-high heat and melt some butter. Add chicken breasts and brown them on both sides. Once browned, place the chicken in your slow cooker.

Next, cook onions in the same skillet until they’re almost clear. Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, cooking for 2 more minutes while stirring.

Pour chicken broth into the slow cooker. Add the cooked onion mixture, artichoke hearts, and Italian seasoning. Stir everything together.

Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook. You can choose high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours. The chicken should be fully cooked when done.

About 10 minutes before serving, make the sauce. Mix heavy cream, cornstarch, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl. Pour this mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker.

Let the sauce simmer and thicken for those last few minutes. Your creamy Tuscan chicken is now ready to enjoy!

Tips, Tricks & Storing

Want to make your Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken even better? Here are some handy tips:

Sear the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker. This locks in flavor and gives a nice golden color.

Don’t skimp on the sun-dried tomatoes! They add a rich, tangy taste to the dish.

For extra creaminess, stir in some cream cheese near the end of cooking.

Try using boneless chicken thighs instead of breasts for more tender meat.

To store leftovers, let the dish cool completely. Then put it in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for 3-4 days.

You can also freeze this meal. Place cooled portions in freezer-safe containers. They’ll last up to 3 months.

When reheating, add a splash of cream or milk to keep the sauce smooth.

For a quick weeknight meal, prep all ingredients the night before. In the morning, just toss everything in the slow cooker and turn it on.

Remember to add fresh spinach just before serving. This keeps it bright green and crisp.