High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken: 3 Easy Steps

High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken is the kind of meal that feels indulgent but works hard for your body. It brings the flavors of an Italian trattoria—sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and parmesan—to the rugged simplicity of a Dutch oven. After a day of burning calories on the trail, you don’t just want protein; you want comfort. I made this High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken on a crisp evening in the Appalachians, and the rich garlic cream sauce was exactly the warmth we needed to shake off the chill.

Why This High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Recipe Works

The challenge with creamy slow cooker recipes is that dairy often splits or curdles during long cooking times. This recipe uses the “finish-fresh” technique. We braise the chicken in a concentrated broth of garlic and sun-dried tomatoes to infuse the meat with flavor first. We only introduce the cream and spinach in the final minutes. This keeps the sauce silky and the greens vibrant, rather than turning them into gray mush. By using lean chicken breasts and a high ratio of meat to sauce, we keep the macro-nutrients focused on recovery.

Ingredients for High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken

• Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless. They soak up the sauce beautifully.
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Packed in oil. The oil adds a punch of flavor you can’t get from dry ones.
• Spinach: Fresh baby spinach is best. Frozen works but must be squeezed dry.
• Garlic: Sliced thin or minced.
• Chicken Broth: The braising liquid.
• Heavy Cream: Or full-fat coconut milk for dairy-free. You don’t need much.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated to thicken the sauce.
• Italian Seasoning: A blend of oregano, basil, and thyme.
• Red Pepper Flakes: For a gentle heat.

Note: This dish relies on the nutrient density of spinach to add vitamins K and A without adding calories, making it a “volume eating” win.

How to Cook High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Step-by-Step

The Sear & Sauté

Season your chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat a little oil in your Dutch oven (or skillet). Sear the chicken until golden brown (2-3 minutes per side). Remove the chicken. In the same pot, sauté the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes for 1 minute until fragrant. This blooms the flavors for your High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken.

The Slow Braise

Return the chicken to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth. Scrape the bottom to release any browned bits. Cover. Cook on Low for 3-4 hours (Slow Cooker) or simmer over low coals (Dutch Oven) for 45 minutes to an hour. You want the chicken just cooked through, not dry.

The Creamy Finish

Remove the lid. Stir in the heavy cream and parmesan cheese. Let it bubble gently for 5 minutes to thicken. Finally, fold in the fresh spinach. It will look like a lot, but it wilts down in seconds.

The Serve

Taste the sauce. It might need a pinch of salt or more pepper. Serve immediately while the sauce is glossy and the spinach is bright green.

Expert Tips for High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken

• Don’t Overcook Breast: Chicken breast is lean. If you leave it in the slow cooker for 8 hours, it will be chalky. 3-4 hours on Low is usually plenty.
• Thicken the Sauce: If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with the heavy cream before adding it.
• Use the Tomato Oil: Don’t drain the sun-dried tomatoes completely. That red oil in the jar is packed with flavor—use a teaspoon of it to sauté the garlic.

Serving & Storing High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken

This sauce begs for a vehicle. Serve over pasta, mashed potatoes, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken keeps well in the fridge for 3 days. When reheating, do it gently over low heat so the cream sauce doesn’t separate.

High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken FAQ

High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken

Creamy, garlic-infused comfort. This High Protein Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken features tender breasts in a sun-dried tomato and spinach parmesan sauce.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 minutes mins

Total Time 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Campfire, Italian

Calories: 350

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 lbs Chicken breasts boneless skinless
• 1 jar 8 oz Sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
• 4 cups Fresh baby spinach
• 1 cup Chicken broth
• 1/2 cup Heavy cream
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
• 4 cloves Garlic minced
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp Red pepper flakes
• Salt and black pepper

Equipment

• Slow Cooker or Dutch Oven, Tongs

Method

 

1. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and herbs.
2. Sear chicken in pot until golden. Remove.
3. Sauté garlic and sun-dried tomatoes for 1 min.
4. Add broth and return chicken to pot.
5. Cover and cook on Low (3-4 hours) or Dutch Oven simmer (1 hour).
6. Stir in cream and parmesan. Cook uncovered 5 mins to thicken.
7. Fold in fresh spinach until wilted.
8. Serve hot.

Notes

Dairy Free: Swap heavy cream for full-fat coconut milk and parmesan for nutritional yeast (flavor will change slightly).

Serving: Excellent over zucchini noodles for a vitamin boost.