This slow cooker Boursin chicken with crispy prosciutto is for those evenings when you're craving tender chicken and a creamy sauce to spoon over pasta.
The cheese you usually spread on crackers becomes the base of the sauce. With thyme, oregano, and sun-dried tomatoes, Boursin gives the chicken a rich, herby flavor as it slowly cooks. Crumbled prosciutto adds a salty crunch to every bite.
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Why make this?
I've loved Boursin since I was a child, when we'd have it on a Melba toast at birthday parties. I could never get enough of that creamy cheese with herbs.
On the last day of a school trip to Paris, I'd spent almost all my cash, so a friend and I bought a baguette and some Boursin. We sat on the ground outside the Centre Pompidou while two boys played Extreme's "More Than Words" on their guitars. The sun was shining, and as far as I was concerned, it couldn't get any better.
So yes, I'm a fan of this cheese and I love to pair it with tender chicken and sun-dried tomatoes. We've had this chicken with rice and with pasta, and we enjoyed both.
What You'll Need
- Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese: gives the sauce its creamy base and adds garlic and herbs. There's no need to add extra cream.
- Sun-dried tomatoes add little bites of sweet tomato flavor that go well with the savory cheese and salty, crispy ham. Use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes and drain them first.
- Prosciutto: Use prosciutto crudo, the thinly sliced, dry-cured ham.
You'll find the full ingredient list and quantities in the recipe card below.
How to Make It
The slow cooker does most of the work. You only need to crisp the prosciutto in a skillet.
- Step 1: Add the shallot, garlic, chicken, and sun-dried tomatoes to the slow cooker.
- Step 2: Stir in the Boursin, wine, broth, mustard, herbs, onion powder, and lemon juice. Cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours.
- Step 3: Cook the prosciutto in a single layer in a dry skillet until crisp. Let it cool on paper towels, then crumble it.
- Step 4: Stir the chicken and sauce well, then top with the crumbled prosciutto and chives just before eating. The Boursin melts as the chicken cooks. A good stir at the end blends the cheese into the sauce.
Andrea's Tips
- Taste before adding salt at the end. Boursin, broth, and prosciutto all contain salt. Try a bite of chicken with a piece of ham before reaching for the salt shaker.
- Drain the tomatoes well to keep extra oil out of the sauce.
- Add the crispy ham at the table. Prosciutto softens within a few minutes once it's in the sauce. Serve it in a small bowl so everyone can sprinkle on their own.
What to Serve with Boursin Chicken
The sauce is fairly thin, and there's plenty of it, so serve something alongside to soak it up. In the video, I serve the chicken with rice, which absorbs the sauce. I also often choose fusilli. The sauce settles into the spirals, so you get some with every bite of pasta and chicken.
For a vegetable side, try these green beans with Parmesan. They're ready in 20 minutes, with a crisp breadcrumb coating and the same thyme and oregano used in the sauce. They give you another bit of crunch alongside the prosciutto.
If you have more time, make these Italian roasted vegetables with zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, and fennel. They need just 40 minutes in the oven, so you can roast them during the chicken's last hour of cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen chicken? Yes, as long as you thaw it completely in the refrigerator before adding it to the slow cooker.
Can I use a different cheese instead of Boursin? Yes. Another garlic and herb cheese spread will work, though the seasoning and sauce consistency may differ. Wait until the end to taste before adding salt.
What can I substitute for the white wine? Use an extra ½ cup (120 ml) of chicken broth. The sauce will have a stronger broth flavor and less acidity. Taste before adding more lemon juice, since the recipe already includes a tablespoon.
Do I need to thicken the sauce? No. The sauce is creamy and fairly thin, and it coats the pasta and rice well as it is.
What can I use instead of prosciutto? Parma ham or serrano ham will work. Cook the slices in a single layer and let them cool on paper towels.
Can I freeze Boursin chicken? Yes, for up to 3 months without the prosciutto. The sauce may become a little grainy after freezing. Reheat gently, stirring in a splash of water and cook the prosciutto fresh.
Did you make this recipe?
So, how did it turn out? Tell me all about it (and a star rating would make my day.)
📖 Recipe
VIDEO
RECIPE CARD
Recipe Help
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Ingredients
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ lb chicken breasts, skinless, cut into cubes 1 x 1 inch
- 6 sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 7 oz Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese
- ½ cup white wine
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt and pepper, to taste
To serve
- 4 slices Prosciutto
- chives, finely chopped, to taste
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
- Spread the shallot and garlic over the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the chicken and scatter the sun-dried tomatoes on top.1 shallot, 2 cloves garlic, 1½ lb chicken breasts, 6 sun-dried tomatoes
- Add the Boursin, white wine, chicken broth, Dijon mustard, thyme, oregano, onion powder and lemon juice. Stir briefly to combine. It's fine if some pieces of Boursin remain.7 oz Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese, ½ cup white wine, ½ cup chicken stock, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Shortly before serving, cook the prosciutto in a dry skillet until crisp. You don't need oil; the prosciutto cooks in its own fat. Transfer to paper towels to drain.4 slices Prosciutto
- Stir the sauce well. Taste a bite of chicken with a piece of prosciutto before adding extra salt. Season with pepper and salt as needed.salt and pepper
- Sprinkle the chicken with chives and serve the crumbled prosciutto separately. Let everyone add the ham to their chicken at the table.chives
Notes
Nutrition
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