Decadent & Easy Keto Tuscan Chicken Crock Pot Recipe That Will Blow Your Mind!

This Crockpot Tuscan Chicken recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for busy weeknights or entertaining guests. This dish combines classic Italian flavors in an easy-to-make format, and it's so delicious that it's sure to become a go-to in your kitchen. The creamy, garlicky Parmesan sauce, combined with the vibrant colors of spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, creates a flavorful and visually appealing meal.

The Origins of Tuscan Chicken

Although it's called Tuscan chicken, it wasn't actually created in Italy. It is believed that the dish was created by Olive Garden and became very popular, as people fell in love with the beautiful combination of ingredients and colors. It features classic Italian flavors such as sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and spinach, mirroring the red, white, and green of the Italian flag.

Why Make It in a Crock-Pot?

Making Tuscan chicken in a crock-pot, rather than on the stovetop, allows the chicken to slow cook in the sauce for an extended period. This results in an incredibly flavorful sauce, almost like liquid gold, and chicken that's so tender it falls off the bone. One of the best things about using a crock-pot is that once you've added the ingredients, you're free to do other things; it doesn't require constant attention.

Lazy Day Cooking

On those days when you want to take it easy, you can simply toss all the ingredients into the crock-pot and still end up with a delicious Tuscan chicken. However, if you want to enhance the color and flavors, taking a few minutes to prep the chicken and make a quick sauce before slow cooking can make a big difference.

Ingredients You'll Need

Here's a list of the key ingredients for this recipe:

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Chicken: Boneless, skinless thighs are ideal for slow cooking as they become very tender and flavorful. However, other chicken parts can also be used. Chicken breasts also work well.
Cream: Essential for creating the rich and decadent sauce. Heavy cream makes the sauce rich and flavorful. For a dairy-free option, you could use coconut milk from a can.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes: These provide a distinctive, tangy flavor that is a hallmark of Tuscan chicken.
Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, umami element to the creamy sauce.
Spinach: Adds color, nutrients, and a mild flavor that complements the other ingredients.

Step-by-Step Crock-Pot Tuscan Chicken Recipe

Here’s how to make this simple and delicious dish:

1. Prep the Chicken:

Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and red chili flakes (optional).
Heat oil or butter in a skillet or cast iron pan. Sear the chicken for 5-6 minutes on one side until golden brown, then flip and sear for another 3-4 minutes.
Transfer the seared chicken thighs into the crock-pot.

Lazy Day Tip: If you're short on time, you can skip the searing and place the seasoned chicken thighs directly into the crock-pot. Searing the chicken mainly for the color, and browning the meat adds tons of flavor to the end result.

2. Make the Parmesan Cream Sauce:

In the same pan, melt butter and sauté garlic for 30-40 seconds until fragrant.
Pour in cream and chicken stock (or extra cream if you don’t have stock) and stir for 3-4 minutes.
Add Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning, cooking for another couple of minutes until the sauce is creamy and well combined.
Toss in the sun-dried tomatoes and cook for just a minute to let their flavors meld with the sauce.

Lazy Day Tip: For an even quicker sauce, mix cream, melted butter, garlic, chicken stock, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and pour it over the chicken. Alternatively, you can use store-bought Alfredo sauce along with sun-dried tomatoes.

3. Combine and Slow Cook:

Pour the sauce over the chicken thighs in the crock-pot, making sure they’re fully coated.
Cover the crock-pot and cook for 3-4 hours on HIGH or 6-8 hours on LOW.

4. Add Spinach:

When the chicken is tender and cooked, stir in spinach.
Cover and cook until the spinach is wilted, about 1 minute.

Tips and Variations

Seasoning: Experiment with different seasonings. Cajun, Creole, or Montreal steak seasoning can add a unique twist.
Cheese: Try different cheeses like provolone, mozzarella, or cream cheese for a creamier dish.
Wine: Add white wine to the sauce for a more complex flavor. Simmer the wine in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and saute for about 30 seconds. Add the white wine and allow the wine to simmer and reduce by half.
Low or High Heat: You can cook this on low for 5 hours or high for 3 hours.
Thicken the Sauce: If you want a thicker sauce, simply add a cornstarch/water mixture to help thicken it. Use one tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon of cold water for each cup of sauce you are wanting to thicken.

Serving Suggestions

Because of the delicious creamy garlic sauce, you’ll want to serve Tuscan chicken with something to soak up the sauce.

Pasta: Serve over penne, bowties, spaghetti, or tricolor tortellini. Slow cooker Tuscan chicken pasta is a classic! I like rigatoni, but you can use any pasta shape you prefer. When making this recipe, I recommend cooking the pasta separately, and then serving the creamy chicken on top.
Mashed Potatoes: A classic side dish for serving along with recipes that have a gravy or sauce.
Rice: If you prefer rice over pasta or mashed potatoes, it’s a great choice here. And it keeps the meal gluten free.
Bread: Serve with crusty bread, no-knead bread, garlic bread drop biscuits, or homemade focaccia.
Low-Carb Options: This chicken is so keto friendly and carb less. Serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.
Side Dishes: You can make some easy air fryer mushrooms or parmesan air fryer zucchini to go along with this dish. They are all perfect together!

Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken

To prepare Tuscan chicken in the Instant Pot:

Heat the Instant Pot using the SAUTE mode. Add oil and butter.
Sear the seasoned chicken on both sides until golden brown. Then, plate it out.
In the same Instant Pot, add more butter and sauté garlic for 30-40 seconds. Pour in cream and chicken stock (or extra cream if you don’t have stock), stirring for 3-4 minutes.
Add Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning, cooking for another couple of minutes until the sauce is creamy and well combined. Toss in the sun-dried tomatoes and cook for a minute.
Return the chicken back into the sauce. Seal the lid and cook on HIGH pressure for 5 minutes, then allow for a natural release of pressure for 10 minutes.
Once done, put the Instant Pot back on SAUTE mode. Stir in spinach and cook until it wilts.

Storage and Reheating

Refrigerator Storage: Allow to cool completely. Then you can store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Freezer Storage: First, allow it to cool completely. Then you should store it in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
Reheating: You can easily reheat this recipe in the microwave. Reheat for 45 seconds then in 15-second increments until heated to your desired level.

Is It Keto-Friendly?

As written, this slow cooker Tuscan chicken recipe is naturally gluten free, low carb, and keto.

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