Creamy Tuscan chicken with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes transforms savory Italian flavors into a hands-off main dish for your next Italian night! It’s similar to creamy Tuscan salmon, but with the added benefit of cooking low, slow, and tender in your slow cooker. I’ll show you how to make this Crock Pot Tuscan garlic chicken recipe, but there are stovetop instructions as well if that’s your preference.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for creamy garlic Tuscan chicken, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Olive Oil – For best flavor, use extra virgin olive oil, but avocado oil works if that’s what you have.Garlic – Fresh garlic tastes the best, but jarred minced garlic will also work.Heavy Cream – Most other types of milk won’t have the same creamy flavor and texture, so avoid regular milk, almond milk, or coconut milk beverage as substitutes. Full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream can work, though.Chicken Broth – I use a reduced sodium variety, since the included cheese is fairly salty. You can also use homemade bone broth.Grated Parmesan Cheese – A grated variety will melt more easily into the sauce.Chicken Breast – I used boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can also use boneless chicken thighs.Sun-Dried Tomatoes – I make my own sun-dried tomatoes in the oven, but store-bought varieties work as well.Spinach – Fresh spinach works best for this Crock Pot Tuscan chicken.Seasonings – Including store-bought or homemade Italian seasoning, sea salt, and black pepper. If you like extra heat, you can add crushed red pepper flakes as well.
How To Make Tuscan Garlic Chicken In The Crock Pot
This section shows how to make Tuscan chicken Crock Pot friendly, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
How To Make Tuscan Chicken In A Skillet
Don’t have a Crock Pot? No problem! You can easily adjust the recipe to make it in a skillet — and the sauce comes out thicker that way, if that’s your preference: When you’re making Tuscan chicken in the Crock Pot, here are my top tips for ensuring your chicken is perfect every time:
Keep more sauce directly on the chicken. You want more of it on the chicken and less on the bottom of the Crock Pot. This way, you’ll end up with more sauce sticking to the chicken and the meat will be more juicy. Plus, the part on top of the chicken stays thicker. Wait to add spinach until the end. It wilts fast! Just don’t let it slow cook the whole time with the creamy Tuscan garlic chicken, because it will turn to mush. The spinach has to go in only at the end. Pile the toppings high. When you’re ready to serve, don’t forget to place the toppings from the bottom of the Crock Pot onto the Tuscan garlic chicken on the plate. Don’t forget the sauce at the bottom of the slow cooker. Drizzle the sauce over the chicken when serving it for extra juicy deliciousness.
If you like creamy chicken with a thicker sauce like this, try my one pot chicken florentine.
Storage Instructions
Store leftovers covered in an airtight container the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also make the sauce ahead, store in the refrigerator, then heat and thin out as needed before pouring over the chicken. Reheat at low power in the microwave or in a 350 degree F oven, until warm.
Can You Freeze Creamy Tuscan Chicken?
Yes, you can freeze Crock Pot creamy Tuscan garlic chicken, though the sauce texture may change a bit. Cool completely, cover tightly, and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
What To Serve With Creamy Tuscan Chicken
This Crock Pot Tuscan garlic chicken pairs well with so many sides! Try these easy dishes:
Pasta & Rice – A must for sopping up all that creamy sauce! I prefer either mashed potatoes for my kids or mashed cauliflower for myself (pictured above). But white rice, cauliflower rice, regular pasta, zucchini noodles, or baked spaghetti squash would all make delicious pairings with this Tuscan Crock Pot chicken as well.Easy Veggies – Cook up sauteed eggplant, roasted broccoli and cauliflower, or sauteed zucchini to serve on the side.Simple Salads – Italian marinated artichoke salad, cold roast vegetable salad, or Caprese salad are all classic choices to complete your Italian meal.
More Creamy Chicken Recipes
Tuscan creamy chicken is just the beginning… if you love saucy, easy meals, try these recipes next! (Or find even more easy healthy chicken recipes here.) Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too – I’d love to see it! The recipe card contains instructions for Crock Pot Tuscan chicken, but see the post above for stovetop instructions if that’s your preference.
