breasts, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian herbs, spinach, and a creamy Parmesan sauce.
The slow cooker does most of the work, allowing the chicken to become tender and absorb all the flavors. The spinach and Parmesan are added toward the end so they stay fresh and flavorful.
It is delicious served with pasta, mashed potatoes, rice, crusty bread, or steamed vegetables.
🛒 Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
For the creamy sauce:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese, optional
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the chicken
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. This helps the seasonings stick and gives the chicken better flavor.
Season both sides of the chicken with:
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Italian seasoning
- Paprika
- Onion powder
Rub the seasonings into the chicken so every piece is well coated.
2. Prepare the slow cooker
Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with a little butter or cooking spray.
Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the bottom in a single layer if possible.
3. Add the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes
Sprinkle the minced garlic over the chicken.
Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes around and on top of the chicken. Their slightly sweet, tangy flavor is one of the key ingredients in Tuscan-style chicken.
4. Add the chicken broth
Pour 1 cup of chicken broth around the chicken.
Don’t pour too much directly over the top because you want the seasoning to remain on the chicken.
5. Slow cook the chicken
Cover the slow cooker with its lid.
Cook on:
- LOW: 4–5 hours
- HIGH: 2–3 hours
The exact cooking time depends on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F / 74°C.
Try not to overcook it, because chicken breast can become dry if left in the slow cooker too long.
6. Add the cream
Once the chicken is cooked through, reduce the slow cooker to its lowest setting if your model allows it.
Pour in 1 cup of heavy cream.
Add the optional cream cheese and butter.
Stir gently around the chicken to combine the ingredients with the cooking juices.
7. Add Parmesan cheese
Sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese.
Stir gently until the Parmesan melts into the cream and creates a smooth, rich sauce.
If the sauce seems too thick, add a small amount of chicken broth or cream.
If it seems too thin, allow it to cook uncovered for several minutes, if your slow cooker permits, until it thickens slightly.
8. Add the spinach
Add the fresh baby spinach during the last 5–10 minutes of cooking.
Cover the slow cooker again and allow the spinach to wilt.
Once wilted, gently stir it into the creamy sauce.
Don’t add the spinach at the beginning because it can become overly soft and lose its fresh flavor.
9. Taste and adjust
Taste the sauce.
Add additional:
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Italian seasoning
- Parmesan
as needed.
If you like a stronger garlic flavor, you can also add a little freshly minced garlic at the end.
10. Serve
Carefully transfer the chicken to serving plates.
Spoon plenty of the creamy Tuscan sauce, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes over the chicken.
For an extra finishing touch, sprinkle a little Parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper over the top.
🍝 What to Serve With It
This chicken goes particularly well with:
- Fettuccine or spaghetti
- Mashed potatoes
- White or brown rice
- Garlic bread
- Crusty bread
- Roasted potatoes
- Steamed broccoli
- Green beans
- A simple green salad
For a complete meal, I especially recommend pasta + garlic bread + a simple salad.
⭐ Tips for the Best Results
Use freshly grated Parmesan: It melts more smoothly than pre-shredded Parmesan.
Don’t add the cream too early: Adding dairy at the beginning of a long slow-cooking process can sometimes cause separation or curdling.
Use chicken breasts of similar size: This helps them cook evenly.
Don’t overcook the chicken: Start checking it toward the earlier end of the cooking time.
For extra flavor: Quickly sear the seasoned chicken in a hot skillet with a little oil before putting it into the slow cooker. This isn’t required, but it adds a deeper, more savory flavor.
For a thicker sauce: Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir it into the sauce near the end. Let it cook for several minutes until thickened.
⏱️ Quick Recipe Summary
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 4–5 hours on LOW
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
Main ingredients: Chicken + garlic + sun-dried tomatoes + chicken broth + heavy cream + Parmesan + spinach.
Final result: Tender chicken in a rich, creamy, garlicky Parmesan sauce with sweet-tangy sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach.