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Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken Recipe

4.7 from 758 reviews

This Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken recipe combines tender chicken breast with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a flavorful sun-dried tomato pesto. Cooked slowly for optimal juiciness and richness, it’s finished with reduced fat crème fraîche and Parmesan cheese, creating a creamy, delicious meal perfect served over rice.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Vegetables

  • 450 g (1 lb) Chicken breast – about 150g/5.25oz per breast
  • 2 Shallots – large; diced
  • 6 Sun-dried tomatoes – diced
  • 60 g (2 cups) Spinach

Seasonings and Sauces

  • 5 tablespoons Sun-dried tomato pesto
  • 80 ml (0.33 cups) Chicken stock
  • 3 tablespoons Reduced fat crème fraîche
  • 20 g (0.75 oz) Parmesan – grated

Instructions

  1. Prepare Ingredients: Begin by placing the chicken breasts, diced shallots, diced sun-dried tomatoes, sun-dried tomato pesto, and chicken stock into the slow cooker. Ensure ingredients are evenly distributed.
  2. Slow Cook Chicken: Cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 7 hours. This slow cooking gives the chicken a tender, juicy texture while infusing it with the rich flavors of the pesto and sun-dried tomatoes.
  3. Add Spinach and Crème Fraîche: About 15 minutes before the cooking time is complete, stir in the fresh spinach and reduced fat crème fraîche. This prevents the crème fraîche from curdling and allows the spinach to wilt perfectly.
  4. Serve: Once cooked, serve the creamy pesto chicken over rice and sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese on top for a savory finish.

Notes

  • Don’t overcook the chicken to avoid drying out breast meat; adhere to recommended cooking times.
  • Use a high-quality sun-dried tomato pesto for the best flavor impact.
  • Stir in crème fraîche towards the end of cooking to keep it from curdling.
  • If the sauce is too thin, remove the slow cooker lid for the last 20 minutes to reduce the liquid slightly.

Keywords: slow cooker, pesto chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, creamy chicken, healthy dinner, Italian chicken recipe