Get ready to fall in love with dinner all over again. This Crockpot Marry Me Chicken is the answer to your weeknight dinner prayers. It delivers that restaurant-quality, proposal-worthy creamy chicken dish with minimal effort, thanks to the magic of your slow cooker. We’re talking tender, juicy chicken breasts swimming in a luxuriously rich and creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with hints of garlic, herbs, and parmesan. It’s a true set-it-and-forget-it masterpiece that will have everyone at the table asking for seconds—and the recipe!
The beauty of this slow cooker version is its simplicity. You bypass the stovetop steps, allowing the crockpot to do all the work of melding the incredible flavors together. The chicken becomes perfectly tender, soaking up all the goodness of the sauce over several hours. This recipe is designed for the enthusiastic home cook who wants maximum flavor with minimum fuss. Whether you’re making a special Sunday dinner or just need a reliable meal for a busy Tuesday, this Crockpot Marry Me Chicken is guaranteed to impress.
Why You’ll Adore This Recipe
- Effortlessly Delicious: With just 10 minutes of prep, the slow cooker handles the rest. It’s the perfect meal for busy days when you’re craving something special without the stress.
- Incredibly Flavorful Sauce: The combination of sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian herbs, heavy cream, and parmesan creates a sauce that is simply irresistible. It’s savory, tangy, and unbelievably creamy.
- Perfectly Tender Chicken: Slow cooking ensures the chicken breasts are juicy and fall-apart tender every single time, soaking up the decadent sauce.
- Versatile and Crowd-Pleasing: This dish is a certified family favorite and is elegant enough to serve to guests. It pairs beautifully with a variety of sides, making it a flexible addition to your meal rotation. For another cheesy chicken favorite, check out this delicious Boursin Chicken recipe (coming soon).
The Key Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken
The magic of this dish lies in its simple, yet powerful, combination of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to create this creamy crockpot chicken.
For the Chicken:
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are ideal for this recipe. They cook up beautifully in the slow cooker, becoming tender and easy to shred.
- Seasonings: A simple mix of salt, black pepper, and garlic powder forms the flavor base for the chicken.
- Olive Oil: Just a touch for searing the chicken, which is an optional but recommended step for added flavor.
For the Creamy Sauce:
- Chicken Broth: This creates the liquid base for our sauce, keeping everything moist as it cooks.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Use the kind packed in oil for the best flavor. Make sure to drain them, but reserve a little oil for an extra flavor boost!
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is a must for a robust, aromatic sauce.
- Italian Seasoning: A classic blend of dried herbs that complements the other flavors perfectly.
- Heavy Cream: This is the key to the ultra-creamy, luxurious texture. For best results, use full-fat heavy cream.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated parmesan cheese will melt into the sauce beautifully and add a nutty, salty depth.
- Fresh Spinach: Wilted in at the end, it adds a touch of color, nutrition, and freshness.
How to Make Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Step-by-Step
This recipe is designed for ease. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have a perfect meal waiting for you.
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. If you have a few extra minutes, searing the chicken is a fantastic way to build flavor. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side, until a golden-brown crust forms. It does not need to be cooked through. Place the seared chicken in the bottom of your crockpot.
Step 2: Build the Sauce Base
In the same skillet (or just directly in the crockpot if you skipped searing), add the chicken broth, drained sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. Stir everything together and pour it over the chicken in the slow cooker. This liquid will infuse the chicken with flavor as it cooks.
Step 3: Slow Cook to Perfection
Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. The chicken should be cooked through and tender enough to shred easily with a fork. Avoid overcooking, as chicken breasts can become dry.
Step 4: Finish the Creamy Sauce
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the crockpot and set it aside. Whisk the heavy cream and grated parmesan cheese into the sauce remaining in the crockpot until it’s smooth and slightly thickened. Stir in the fresh spinach and allow it to wilt, which should only take a couple of minutes. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
You can either place the chicken breasts back into the sauce whole or shred the chicken before returning it. Serve your Crockpot Marry Me Chicken hot over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Tips for the Best Results
- Don’t Skip the Sear: While optional, searing the chicken creates a deeper, richer flavor in the final dish.
- Use Full-Fat Cream: For the creamiest, most stable sauce, full-fat heavy cream is essential. Lower-fat alternatives can sometimes curdle under heat.
- Freshly Grated Parmesan: Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly. Grate your own for the best sauce texture.
- Temper the Cream: To ensure your sauce doesn’t break, you can temper the cream. Whisk a few tablespoons of the hot liquid from the crockpot into the cold cream before stirring the mixture back into the slow cooker.
What to Serve with Marry Me Chicken
This creamy chicken dish is incredibly versatile. Here are some fantastic serving suggestions:
- Pasta: Serve over fettuccine, penne, or linguine to soak up all of that incredible sauce.
- Rice: Plain white or brown rice is a great option. For a more flavorful side, try this easy Spanish Rice recipe.
- Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes are a perfect pairing.
- Bread: A crusty baguette is essential for sopping up every last drop of the sauce.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store any leftover Marry Me Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, gently warm it in a saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce if needed. You can also microwave it in short intervals, stirring in between.
Variations and Substitutions
- Chicken Thighs: For even juicier meat, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They may need a slightly longer cooking time. If you enjoy crockpot chicken thighs, you should try these simple Crock Pot Chicken Thighs.
- Add Mushrooms: Sliced cremini mushrooms can be added with the sun-dried tomatoes for an extra earthy flavor.
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the Italian seasoning for a little bit of heat.
FAQs About Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
While the dairy is central to the classic recipe, you can try substituting the heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream and using a high-quality, dairy-free parmesan alternative. The texture and flavor will be different but still delicious.
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work wonderfully and result in very juicy meat. You may need to add 30-60 minutes to the cooking time on LOW to ensure they are perfectly tender.
The key is to add the heavy cream and parmesan cheese at the very end of the cooking process, with the heat on low or turned off. Using room temperature, full-fat heavy cream also helps ensure the sauce stays smooth and stable.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of milk or chicken broth if the sauce has thickened too much.
Marry Me Chicken is a popular dish featuring chicken in a rich, creamy sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and parmesan cheese. It’s so named because it’s supposedly delicious enough to elicit a marriage proposal!
This dish is fantastic served over pasta (like fettuccine or penne), creamy mashed potatoes, or simple white rice to soak up the delicious sauce. A side of steamed asparagus or a green salad also pairs nicely.
The Perfect Slow Cooker Dinner
While the dairy is central to the classic recipe, you can try substituting the heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream and using a high-quality, dairy-free parmesan alternative. The texture and flavor will be different but still delicious.
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work wonderfully and result in very juicy meat. You may need to add 30-60 minutes to the cooking time on LOW to ensure they are perfectly tender.
The key is to add the heavy cream and parmesan cheese at the very end of the cooking process, with the heat on low or turned off. Using room temperature, full-fat heavy cream also helps ensure the sauce stays smooth and stable.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of milk or chicken broth if the sauce has thickened too much.
Marry Me Chicken is a popular dish featuring chicken in a rich, creamy sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and parmesan cheese. It’s so named because it’s supposedly delicious enough to elicit a marriage proposal!
This dish is fantastic served over pasta (like fettuccine or penne), creamy mashed potatoes, or simple white rice to soak up the delicious sauce. A side of steamed asparagus or a green salad also pairs nicely.
This Crockpot Marry Me Chicken recipe is a game-changer for anyone who loves delicious, comforting food without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s a dish that proves simple ingredients, when combined with the right technique, can create something truly special. We know you’ll love it as much as we do!
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out! We’d also love for you to share it on Pinterest so others can discover this amazing dish.
Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
Crockpot Marry Me Chicken: The Ultimate Slow Cooker Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Optional: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until golden. Place chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add chicken broth, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning to the slow cooker. Stir to combine and pour over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Remove the chicken from the crockpot. Whisk the heavy cream and parmesan cheese into the sauce until smooth. Stir in the fresh spinach and let it wilt for 2-3 minutes.
- Return the chicken to the creamy sauce (whole or shredded). Serve immediately over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Notes
Tip 2: Bring heavy cream to room temperature before adding it to the crockpot to prevent the sauce from curdling.
Tip 3: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
