A creamy, dairy-free Tuscan chicken recipe made in the slow cooker. Infused with garlic, leek, and basil undertones this crockpot Tuscan chicken could be right out of Italy. Made with a base of coconut milk and bone broth this easy, weeknight dinner is also paleo and whole30 approved.
Overcome the question of “what’s for dinner tonight” by whipping up this dairy-free Tuscan chicken!
Made in the slow cooker this dinner is thrown together in just 30 minutes and can cook while you’re working.
Learn more about slow cookers and choosing the best one for your family (and how to use it!).
Plus, it’s an easy meal prep recipe to make in batches!
Whip up multiple batches and freeze it to use over your choice of rice, pasta, or spaghetti squash. Creating a new “meal” every time.
“Yum! This is creamy and delicious -- plus easy! An all-around winner that the family loved -- thanks for the recipe.” - Jennifer
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make
- Cook all day without effort
- delicious and comforting
- All the cream but without the dairy
- Versatile
Ingredients You Need
As a Certified Nutrition Coach, one of the reasons I love this recipe is that this crockpot Tuscan chicken requires only nine ingredients for an easy, healthy meal- just like these clean eating slow cooker recipes.
Garlic: fresh garlic is used in the recipe but know that granulated garlic works too.
Leek: traditional Tuscan chicken uses regular onion but leek gives this dairy-free version a way better flavor.
Arrowroot powder: used to thicken the sauce and make it creamy instead of watery. Know that cornstarch works too.
Boneless, skinless, chicken breasts: you'll want to cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks. And though thighs are great, they add too much liquid to the recipe so make sure to use chicken breasts.
Chicken broth: you can use homemade broth or your own favorite version. I personally use bone broth powder for the best convenience (learn everything you need to know about bone broth powder).
Full fat coconut milk: using canned coconut milk (called coconut cream) and draining the water first will give you a creamier sauce (it also works to make things like coconut milk alfredo sauce super cream!).
Sun dried tomatoes: there are a few sun dried tomatoes you can use. The recipe calls for oil-based ones though I prefer straight dried sun dried tomatoes from the bag. Both work.
Basil and spinach: this slow cooker chicken will taste best if you use fresh basil and baby spinach (not frozen!).½ cup fresh basil sliced into ribbons
How To Make Dairy-Free Tuscan Chicken From Scratch
Making the recipe is as easy as prepping the chicken and combining everything into the slow cooker!
- Toss the chopped chicken pieces with arrowroot powder and salt in a plastic baggie. Shake until coated
- Add the garlic and leek to the bottom of the slow cooker and add in the broth and coconut milk. Whisk until combined.
- Add the chicken, sun dried tomatoes, and basil into the slow cooker and cover.
- Cook for 6 hours and serve over rice, pasta, or spaghetti squash.
Step By Step Photos
Important Teaching Tips
Make sure to use canned, full fat coconut milk and not a carton (also called coconut cream). Drain the water from the top. This results in a creamier sauce.
It is possible to overcook chicken in a slow cooker, so make sure to have it set to low and not cook for more than six hours the same rule applies to this slow cooker Chipotle chicken.
Depending on your personal diet preferences, you can serve this dish over:
- Cooked rice (learn how to cook basmati rice)
- Pasta
- Spaghetti squash
Know that only the spaghetti squash would be allowed if you’re following the Whole30 diet. You can also learn more about essential Gluten-Free pantry staples to get you started!
Oil-based sun dried tomatoes work but the dry ones in the package are better if you can find them.
Make sure to have your base cooked ahead of time if possible so that it’s just a matter of reheating. This saves you time in the kitchen after work!
Chop the chicken into larger chunks. Chicken shrinks, and the larger chunks help it to not overcook or dry out.
Add Ins
While this dairy-free recipe is delicious all on its own, there are a few ways you can bump it up if you wish! I like to add in:
- Roasted red peppers from time to time to give it a bit more color
- Sprinkle it with nutritional yeast to give it even more of a cheesy feel
Products You Need
If you have homemade bone broth on hand- awesome! However, as a busy mom, I know that’s not always the case for myself.
If you’re not into making homemade chicken broth, make sure to have a container of Perfect Supplements Bone Broth Powder on hand.
This product is a lifesaver for busy moms. All you need to do is boil water, whisk it in and you’re good to go!
The powder is %100 organic and made from grass-fed chickens. It’s premium quality and an easy way to help boost your gut health (I use it in this super weird, sneaky, chocolate smoothie the most!).
It works beautifully in this Tuscan chicken recipe too.
Grab a container to keep on hand and use code mamabear15 to save some money.
Skip Dinner Stress
The Busy Mom's Cookbook is where frazzled moms get high-protein dinner on the table fast without sacrificing nutrition or sanity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken
Normally made from chicken breasts, cream, and a blend of spices using basil. The chicken is infused into the cream sauce and topped with sundried tomatoes and fresh spinach. It can be made dairy-free as well using a combination of coconut milk and nutritional yeast (optional)
Sun dried tomatoes can be eaten as-is out of the jar but they are best served with other flavors. Use them to bring out a bit of saltiness in pasta, stir fry, on top of pizza, or even in egg muffins! They make a dish “pop” in flavor.
You can put raw chicken in the slow cooker and it will cook in roughly six hours. Make sure not to overcook the chicken and that it has a liquid with it to prevent it from drying out.
Yes! Chicken cooked for longer than six hours is more likely to overcook. To prevent this, make sure to cook the chicken on low and ensure it has enough liquid in the pot.
Make sure to cook the chicken on low and not much past six hours. Also, have enough liquid in the form of broth or sauce to absorb into the chicken to prevent it from getting too dry.
More Recipes You'll Enjoy:
- Crock pot balsamic chicken
- How to go dairy-free
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Dairy-Free Tuscan Chicken Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cloves garlic
- ⅓ cup leek sliced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup arrowroot powder
- 4 chicken breasts cut into chunks
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup coconut milk
- ¾ cup sun dried tomatoes 210 mL jar, oil drained
- ½ cup fresh basil sliced into ribbons
- 2 cups spinach
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the garlic and leek to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- in a plastic baggie, add the chicken breasts, arrowroot powder, and salt. Toss until chicken is coated.
- Add the chicken broth and coconut milk to the slow cooker and whisk until combined.
- Dump in the chicken breasts chunks and top with basil and sundried tomatoes.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours (see notes).
- When ready, serve the Tuscan chicken on top of rice, noodles or spaghetti squash by placing half a cup of spinach on top of the base and topping with the chicken mixture.
Notes
- Make sure to use canned coconut milk and not a carton. This results in a creamier sauce.
- It is possible to overcook chicken in a slow cooker, so make sure to have it set to low and not cook for more than six hours.
- Make sure to have your base cooked ahead of time if possible so that it’s just a matter of reheating. This saves you time in the kitchen after work!
- Chop the chicken into larger chunks. Chicken shrinks and the larger chunks help it to not overcook or dry out.
- If using bone broth powder, whisk one scoop into ½ cup boiling water before adding it to the slow cooker.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
An easy, healthy dinner recipe perfect for busy nights. Made with hints of basil and salty sun dried tomatoes, this dairy-free, creamy, Tuscan chicken is a hearty addition to your dinner table.
Lauren C Dibble says
Mmmm this looks amazing! Looks delicious, even for those of us who are lactose intolerant! Can't wait to try it.
fitasamamabear says
Thank you!! Coconut milk saves dairy-free lives haha
Jean Choi says
This Tuscan chicken is so creamy and flavorful, I can't believe it's dairy free!!
fitasamamabear says
Honestly coconut milk saves my dairy-free life sanity hehe
ChihYu says
Quick, creamy, delicious and easy to make! Love that it's dairy-free and paleo!
fitasamamabear says
Yes! It's such a great comfort meal!
jennifer says
Yum! This is creamy and delicious -- plus easy! An all-around winner that the family loved -- thanks for the recipe.
fitasamamabear says
Yay! SO happy you loved it!
Stacey Crawford says
I'm loving this recipe! That creamy sauce with the sun-dried tomatoes really makes the taste-buds sing!
fitasamamabear says
Sundried tomatoes make everything just "pop"! I love them!
Jillian Signoriello says
Can’t wait to try this! What does the arrowroot powder do? Is it a big deal if I don’t have it?
fitasamamabear says
The arrowroot powder helps thicken it so it's creamy and not water. Cornstarch should work the same if you have that!
Sandy says
Made this for our friends doing whole 30. The recipe turned out amazing. Thank you!
fitasamamabear says
Ohh yay! Glad everyone enjoyed it!
Karen Kelly says
I loved the creamy broth on this! The leeks, basil and bone broth really come together to make a flavorful broth. Thanks for the yummy recipe!
fitasamamabear says
Leeks are my total favorite, they just give such flavor!
Jennifer says
I wasn't sure about the coconut milk in this recipe, but wow! This is a winner! It was so creamy and rich that I didn't even miss the dairy!
fitasamamabear says
Haha it's a surprising ingredient that works for EVERYTHING lol
Sharina says
Glad I paid attention to your tips, the sauce turned out to be creamier and tastier. This tuscan chicken recipe is worth the bookmark.
fitasamamabear says
Thank you SO much for the kind wor, so happy you enjoyed it!
Gena says
I appreciate this recipe so much! So good!!
fitasamamabear says
Wahoo!
Lisa says
Cooking this dish in a slow cooker made the chicken so juicy and tender. I loved it much more than our usual skillet recipe.
fitasamamabear says
It's a nice one to come home to!
Sara says
Absolutely DELICIOUS. We used chicken thighs and omg, every bite was amazing. Can't wait to make this again.
fitasamamabear says
Ah I hadn't made it with thighs yet, thanks for letting me know it worked!
Melissa says
I didn't have leeks so I used a sweet onion. It was delicious. My whole family loved it!
fitasamamabear says
Oh that's a perfect swap, happy you loved it!
Kris says
This was the best slow cooker meal we've ever made. The coconut milk and sun-dried tomatoes were such a delicious combo. The whole family loved it!
fitasamamabear says
Those two things make any dish amazing lol
Katie says
This looks amazing! Hoping to make it this week. I have a baby coming in a few weeks, would this freeze and reheat well? Has anyone tried?
fitasamamabear says
Eeeekkk mega congrats, I'm so excited for you!! I haven't tried freezing this one to be honest so if you get to it let me know. I think it would be fine but I worry about the coconut milk separating a bit.
jennifer says
You have so many amazing recipes and this is one of my favorites, my family's too! Thanks girl, love making it on busy days
Jill says
This is such a winner! The flavors of coconut milk and sun-dried tomatoes is perfect.
fitasamamabear says
Definitely one of my favorites too!
Ann says
This might be my new favorite slow cooker recipe!! It was so easy and my family loved it. Definitely going in the regular rotation!
fitasamamabear says
Hehe glad it was a hit!
Madeline says
Mmmm those sundried tomatoes in there are my FAVE! Loved this fall recipe...and an excuse to use my slow cooker more!
fitasamamabear says
They make everything yummier!
Rhea says
I loved everything about this meal, from the sun dried tomatoes to the creamy coconut sauce. My family now asks for this at least twice a month and it's all doable thanks to my little friend the slow cooker!
fitasamamabear says
Wahoo! Total life win.