Picture this: tender chicken cooked low and slow until it practically melts in your mouth, bathed in a rich, creamy sauce studded with sun-dried tomatoes. That’s exactly why the Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Recipe has become one of my absolute go-to weeknight meals—comforting, impressive, and surprisingly easy.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Recipe is one of those dishes that feels fancy without the fuss. I love how it effortlessly blends a handful of everyday ingredients into something cozy and decadent—all while freeing up my time to do other things since the slow cooker does all the heavy lifting.
- Simplicity: Just a few simple steps and basic ingredients make it easy for even a busy cook to shine.
- Flavor Explosion: The creamy, garlicky sauce with sun-dried tomatoes is unexpectedly delicious and totally addictive.
- Hands-Off Cooking: Slow cooking means you set it and forget it until dinner time—perfect for busy days.
- Versatility: Great with pasta, spaghetti squash, or even crusty bread to soak up all that luscious sauce.
Ingredients & Why They Work
What I love about this recipe is the thoughtful ingredient pairing that ensures every bite is packed with flavor and perfect texture. Here’s a little peek behind why each element plays its part so well.
- Chicken breasts: Boneless and skinless for easy prep, they absorb the flavors beautifully while staying tender when slow-cooked.
- Olive oil: Just enough for a quick sear that locks in great flavor before the slow cooking begins.
- Chicken broth: Provides a savory base that keeps the sauce light yet comforting.
- Cornstarch: This is your secret weapon for thickening the sauce to that perfect creamy consistency—no lumps!
- Garlic cloves: Fresh minced garlic adds that irresistible aroma and a gentle kick without overpowering the dish.
- Italian seasoning: A blend that brings in classic herbs like oregano and basil, complementing the other flavors effortlessly.
- Paprika and onion powder: They add depth and a subtle earthiness that rounds out the taste beautifully.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: These little flavor bombs provide tangy sweetness and a chewy texture that brightens the sauce.
- Heavy cream: Creates the luscious, silky sauce that feels indulgent but isn’t over the top.
- Parmesan cheese: Adds a sharp, salty finish that pulls everything together harmoniously.
Make It Your Way
One of my favorite things about this Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Recipe is how easy it is to tweak it to fit your taste or the season. I often play around with the herbs or add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes if I’m craving a little heat.
- Variation: Sometimes I swap the heavy cream for half-and-half if I want it a little lighter, and it still turns out creamy and delicious.
- Dietary Modification: For a dairy-free twist, you can replace the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
- Fresh Herbs: Adding fresh basil or parsley right before serving gives the dish a fresh burst that brightens the creaminess.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Recipe
Step 1: Sear the Chicken for Flavor
Start by heating up a skillet over medium-high heat and spritzing it lightly with cooking spray. Add a splash of olive oil, and once it's shimmering, drop in your chicken breasts. You just want to brown them on the outside for 2-3 minutes per side—don’t worry about cooking them through. This quick sear adds so much flavor and locks in moisture, which really makes a difference after slow cooking.
Step 2: Whisk Together the Sauce Base
While your chicken is browning, whisk together the chicken broth and cornstarch in your slow cooker until smooth and lump-free. This little step prevents lumps and is key for your sauce to thicken later on. Next, stir in the minced garlic and all your seasonings—Italian seasoning, paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Give it another good whisk to mix everything well.
Step 3: Combine and Cook Low and Slow
Place your seared chicken into the slow cooker, turning to coat with the broth mixture. Then sprinkle the chopped sun-dried tomatoes on top. Cover and cook on low for about 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. It’s such a treat to come home to that wonderful aroma!
Step 4: Finish with Cream and Cheese
Once your chicken is ready, transfer the breasts to a plate and pour in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese to the slow cooker liquid. Stir gently until smooth and creamy. Then pop the chicken back in and turn it a few times so each piece soaks up all that beautiful sauce.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Serve your chicken right away with sauce ladled over the top. I love adding a sprinkle of fresh basil and extra Parmesan for that extra pop of flavor.
Top Tip
From my experience with this Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Recipe, a few tiny details make all the difference between good and absolutely fantastic results.
- Searing is Key: Don’t skip browning the chicken first—it locks in juiciness and builds layers of flavor that slow cooking alone can’t create.
- Don’t Rush the Sauce: Adding cornstarch to the broth right in the slow cooker is what prevents a watery sauce and gives you that velvety finish every time.
- Watch Your Time: Depending on your slow cooker, 3 hours can be enough, but sometimes it needs up to 4. Check for doneness with a thermometer or by cutting into the thickest part.
- Fresh Herbs Last: Add fresh basil or parsley just before serving to keep their bright flavor from fading in the long cooking process.
How to Serve Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Recipe
Garnishes
I always like to keep things simple yet fresh: sprinkling torn fresh basil leaves over the creamy sauce adds a pop of color and herby brightness. A little extra grated Parmesan on top never hurts, either—it’s kind of a must for that cheesy goodness.
Side Dishes
This chicken pairs perfectly with angel hair pasta, soaking up all that gorgeous sauce. If you want something lighter, I love using cooked and shredded spaghetti squash—it’s an easy way to sneak in veggies while keeping it gluten-free and delicious.
Creative Ways to Present
For dinner parties or date nights, I like serving this dish individually, plating the chicken breast on a bed of pasta or squash, then drizzling sauce artistically around. Garnishing with microgreens or a lemon zest twist adds a beautiful, fresh finish.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, and I’ve found it stays creamy and flavorful for up to 3 days. Just give the sauce a gentle stir before reheating.
Freezing
This recipe freezes surprisingly well. I recommend freezing the chicken and sauce together in a freezer-safe container. When you thaw it, the sauce may separate slightly, but a quick stir while reheating fixes it right up.
Reheating
To keep the chicken moist, I reheat leftovers gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through. If you're in a hurry, the microwave works—just heat in short bursts and stir to avoid drying out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Chicken thighs will make the dish even more tender and flavorful due to their higher fat content. Just check for doneness a bit earlier since thighs can cook faster in a slow cooker.
The key is to mix cornstarch with the chicken broth before adding the chicken to the slow cooker. This slurry thickens the sauce as it cooks. Also, finishing the sauce with Parmesan and cream adds richness and helps thicken it further.
Yes! You can brown the chicken and prepare the sauce base the night before, then store everything in the fridge. When ready, add it to the slow cooker and cook as directed. It’s a great way to save time on busy days.
Angel hair pasta is a classic choice as it soaks up the creamy sauce beautifully, but you can also serve it with spaghetti squash for a lighter, low-carb option. Roasted or steamed veggies like green beans or asparagus make great accompaniments, too.
Final Thoughts
This Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Recipe always feels like a little celebration in my kitchen—simple yet impressive. I hope you’ll give it a try and discover how easy it is to create a cozy, restaurant-worthy meal right at home. Trust me, once you make this, it’ll likely become a favorite for busy weeknights and special dinners alike. Enjoy every creamy, garlicky bite!
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Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Description
This Crockpot Marry Me Chicken recipe is a comforting and easy-to-make Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked low and slow in a creamy, flavorful sun-dried tomato sauce, perfect for a hassle-free dinner.
Ingredients
Chicken and Sauce
- Cooking spray
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ¼ lbs)
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 garlic cloves, minced (1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (drain, if packed in oil), chopped
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Optional for Serving
- Hot, cooked angel hair pasta or cooked and shredded spaghetti squash
- Fresh basil leaves
- Additional Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Sear the Chicken: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, mist the pan with cooking spray and add olive oil. When the oil shimmers, add chicken breasts and cook for 3 minutes to brown the outside without cooking through.
- Prepare Slow Cooker Base: In the slow cooker, whisk together chicken broth and cornstarch until no lumps remain to create a smooth slurry.
- Add Seasonings: Stir minced garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper into the broth mixture and whisk again well.
- Transfer Chicken to Slow Cooker: Place seared chicken breasts into the slow cooker and turn once to coat evenly with the broth mixture.
- Add Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Sprinkle chopped sun-dried tomatoes over the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover and cook on the low setting for 4 hours until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Finish Sauce: Remove chicken onto a plate. Add heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese to the liquid in the slow cooker and stir to combine into a creamy sauce.
- Coat Chicken in Sauce: Return the chicken to the slow cooker and turn to coat well with the creamy sauce.
- Serve: Serve chicken topped with sauce, garnished with fresh basil and extra Parmesan if desired. Pair with cooked angel hair pasta or shredded spaghetti squash.
Notes
- Searing the chicken first adds extra flavor and texture but don’t cook the chicken completely in the skillet, as it will finish cooking in the slow cooker.
- If sun-dried tomatoes are packed in oil, drain excess oil before chopping and adding.
- For a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or coconut cream for a dairy-free twist.
- This dish pairs beautifully with pasta or a low-carb option like spaghetti squash.
- Fresh basil adds a bright, herbaceous note as a garnish but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to better control the salt content in the dish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ of the chicken and sauce
- Calories: 346 calories
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 745 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg

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