Creamy Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken with Spinach
A comforting and easy slow cooker recipe featuring tender chicken breasts in a creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach, perfect for busy weeknights or cozy dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds / 680 grams)
- 1/2 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil recommended)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup chicken broth (240 ml), low sodium recommended
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (120 ml)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened (full-fat preferred)
- 3 cups fresh spinach, packed (about 90 grams)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (25 grams), optional
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for sautéing garlic)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning (about 5 minutes).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together chicken broth and softened cream cheese until smooth and lump-free (about 3 minutes).
- Place chicken breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker. Scatter sun-dried tomatoes and minced garlic evenly over the chicken. Pour the cream cheese mixture on top and drizzle olive oil if using (about 5 minutes).
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2.5 hours. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking.
- About 15 minutes before the end of cooking, stir in fresh spinach and heavy cream. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top, cover, and finish cooking.
- Before serving, taste the sauce and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot.
Notes
For thicker sauce, remove chicken and spinach after cooking, then cook sauce uncovered on high for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Browning chicken before slow cooking is optional but adds flavor. Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth sauce. Add spinach last to keep it fresh and vibrant. Adjust salt and pepper near the end as cream cheese and broth add saltiness. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Reheat gently with added broth or cream to loosen sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, Tuscan chicken, creamy chicken recipe, spinach chicken, easy dinner, comfort food, sun-dried tomatoes