Crockpot Creamy Tuscan Chicken

I love easy crockpot meals. I love a good crockpot meal any time of the year. I used to think that crockpot meals were for only fall and winter, but this one can be lightened up for summer by adding it to a bed of spinach. As moms, we need simple, kid-approved, and delicious meals. This crockpot creamy Tuscan chicken checks all those boxes.

Picture this: a luscious blend of tender chicken, velvety cream, and a medley of vibrant Italian flavors, all coming together in a slow cooker to create a dish that tastes like a gourmet masterpiece. Say hello to Crockpot Creamy Tuscan Chicken - the culinary gem that will transport your taste buds straight to the heart of Tuscany!

This recipe is my take on something one of my friend (Nicole) made for a dinner date we had with our husbands. Don't you love some adult dinner date time? After one taste and I had to know how she made it. I've added my spin by adding a few extras that I think send it over the top delicious!

This is now on our regular family rotation. My whole family loves it. Now feel free to change this recipe to fit your children's tastes. My kids will eat sun-dried tomatoes but not eat spinach so when I make this I only add a little into the dish and just add more spinach into the bowls of people who like spinach.

Crockpot Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Ingredients

• 2-2½ lbs of chicken - I prefer using thighs for this recipe you can use breast but thighs give you a more tender dish.

• 2 jars of Alfredo sauce. Store-bought or homemade. (Our favorite is Bertolli- 1 Jar is 15oz) *

• 2 Tablespoons of butter

• 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil.

• 1 large onion finely diced.

• 3 garlic cloves diced or already minced garlic or 2 squeezes of the garlic bottle

• 2 Tablespoons of Italian seasons

• ½ cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes

• 1 cup of baby spinach

• ¾ box of pasta (We like Penne or Ziti)

• Salt and Peper

*For this recipe we will use 1½ jars of sauce. ( I keep the other half in the fridge and make this dish in 2 or 3 weeks) You can just add a full 2 jars into the dish and add more pasta.

Directions

1. Start by peeling and chopping your onion into a fine dice.

2. Start your crockpot on the saute feature. If your crockpot doesn't have this feature you can do these steps in a 12-inch frying pan on medium-high. ( My crockpot has low and high settings for sauteing and I use the high setting) (

3. Add butter and olive oil to your crockpot or saute pan. Let it start to melt.

4. Add chopped onions and cook for 5-7 mins until onions start to be translucent.

5. While the onions are cooking start working on dicing the chicken into 2-inches x 2-inches cubes. I like to remove excess fat from the thighs also.

6. Also, work on dicing the sundried tomatoes

7. After the onions are halfway cooked add the chicken cubes to the same crockpot or pan.

8. Cook chicken and onions together. It should take about 10 -15 mins. Make sure to stir every few mins to get an even color.

9. After the chicken is cooked and has some brown color you will need to drain out the excess liquid. ( I add a paper towel to the crockpot to collect the water) Only about 2 tablespoons of liquid should remain in the pan

10. Once the liquid is drained, return the chicken and onion mixture back into the crockpot.

11. With the heat still on add garlic, Italian season, and salt and pepper. Cook for 1-2 mins until garlic is fragrant

12. Add chopped sundried tomatoes and saute 2-3 min

13. Turn off saute mode. (your chicken mixture should be in the crockpot)

14. Open your first jar of sauce and add it to the crockpot. ( I add about 1 tablespoon of water into the jar and put the lid on and shake to get all the sauce out and add it into the crockpot.

15. Open the second jar of sauce and add half. No need to stir

16. Cover crockpot and cook on high for 2-2.5 hrs or cook on low for 4 hours.

17. 20-30 mins before cook time is finished cook your pasta in boiling, salted water and drain.

18. After cooking add spinach into the crockpot and just let it welt from the heat. Stir in your cooked pasta

19. Enjoy and refrigerate leftovers*

* If the sauce gets too thick in the fridge you can add a splash of milk when heating up leftovers.

Remember, while our blog post delves into the classic version of Crockpot Creamy Tuscan Chicken, the beauty of this dish lies in its versatility. Feel free to experiment with additional ingredients or tweak the recipe to suit your personal preferences. The magic of Tuscan cooking lies in the art of customization, and you're the artist behind the masterpiece.

So, as you savor the lingering flavors on your palate and relish the joy of sharing this culinary gem with loved ones, I hope that Crockpot Creamy Tuscan Chicken finds a permanent place in your repertoire of go-to recipes. Its charm knows no bounds - a culinary treasure that transports you to the rustic Italian countryside with every bite.