High Protein Crockpot Chicken (Printable)
Slow-cooked tender chicken in a creamy parmesan and sun-dried tomato sauce, rich in protein and herbs.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1/2 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
→ Sauce
04 - 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
05 - 1/2 cup light cream cheese, softened
06 - 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
07 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
08 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
09 - 1/2 tsp dried basil
10 - 1 tsp garlic powder
11 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
→ Garnish
12 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
13 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
# How To Make It:
01 - Rub chicken breasts evenly with salt and black pepper on all sides.
02 - Place seasoned chicken pieces in a single layer at the bottom of the crockpot.
03 - Whisk together chicken broth, cream cheese, parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, thyme, basil, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl until mostly smooth.
04 - Pour sauce mixture over chicken, ensuring all pieces are completely covered.
05 - Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6-7 hours until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and is fork-tender.
06 - Remove chicken from slow cooker, shred or slice as preferred, then return to sauce and stir until thoroughly coated.
07 - Plate hot and garnish with chopped fresh basil and parsley.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The sauce develops this incredible richness while you are literally doing nothing else with your day
- Sun-dried tomatoes bring this umami punch that makes everyone think you cooked for hours
02 -
- Cream cheese can separate if you add it too early but whisking it with the warm broth before pouring helps it emulsify
- The sauce will look thin at first but it thickens up beautifully during the last hour of cooking
03 -
- Chopping the sun-dried tomatoes into smaller pieces distributes their flavor throughout every bite
- Keep the lid on during cooking because every time you peek you add twenty minutes to the cook time