This crockpot marry me chicken recipe is the slow cooker version of the viral dinner!
Made in a crockpot, this marry-me chicken is the perfect weeknight dinner.
It’s packed with flavor thanks to sundried tomatoes, freshly grated parmesan, and heavy cream which creates a creamy sundried tomato sauce.
After making my marry me beans, I knew I had to make a classic chicken version! This crockpot (slow cooker) chicken version only takes 15 minutes to prep, so it’s perfect to make on busy weeknights OR for a special occasion.
If you haven’t had marry me chicken before, get ready! It went viral on TikTok, with people claiming that if you made it for someone, they’d propose. I don’t need any proposals, but I will say yes to this creamy sauce and rich chicken viral recipe! I love serving it with pasta or a side salad, but it’s just as good with mashed potatoes, rice, or even some crusty bread to mop up the sauce.
Why you’ll love this crockpot chicken
- This recipe requires minimal effort for bit flavor!
- Prep this crockpot marry me chicken and then let the crockpot (or slow cooker) do the rest of the work.
- This chicken recipe is also perfect to mealprep, divide into containers and take to work for lunch.
- It’s an easy chicken dinner for a weeknight but can also be served for a dinner party.
Ingredients needed for this crockpot marry me chicken recipe
Chicken: boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the way to go; you get tender chicken breasts after cooking them on low in the sundried tomato sauce
Sundried tomatoes: tangy sun-dried tomatoes are a MUST in this recipe; they’re the base of the creamy sauce and they add so much flavor
Parmesan: Make sure to grate your own Parmesan cheese or use freshly grated Parmesan! Pre-packaged grated Parmesan won’t melt in the sauce properly.
Cornstarch: Adding some cornstarch will help thicken the sauce.
Sauce: I like to use heavy cream in this recipe to ensure the sauce is creamy, however, you can swap for light or 10% cream to make the sauce lighter if desired. Plus you’ll need chicken broth.
Seasonings: minced garlic cloves, dried oregano, dried thyme, chili flakes, kosher salt and ground pepper add flavor to the sauce
Oil: This is optional, but I love adding some of the oil from the sundried tomatoes. It packs a flavor punch!
Fresh basil: adding fresh basil to the creamy sundried tomato sauce at the end of the cooking time rounds out the flavours perfectly
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then set aside.
Step 2: Add a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil to a frying pan or large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, sear the seasoned chicken breasts for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Remove the chicken breasts to a plate.
Step 3: Turn the crockpot on low heat.
Step 4: In a medium bowl, add the chicken broth, cornstarch, and milk. Whisk until combined. Pour into the slow cooker and add the diced onion, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, chili flakes, chopped sundried tomatoes, and oil from the tomato jar (if using). Mix everything together.
Step 5: Place the chicken breasts in the crockpot and flip them around a couple of times in the flavorful sauce so they’re covered in the liquid.
Step 6: Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 3-4 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°Fahrenheit.
Step 7: Once cooked through, remove the chicken to a plate. Add the Parmesan cheese to the sauce in the crockpot and stir. Stir in the chopped basil and spinach (if using). Place the lid back on and cook for a few minutes, until the spinach has wilted.
Step 8: Stir the delicious sauce again and serve the chicken topped with it. Sprinkle over more freshly chopped basil and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions for this easy recipe
Here are a few sides and serving suggestions for this crockpot chicken recipe!
- Mashed potatoes
- Cooked pasta of choice
- Brown or white rice or other grain of choice
- A side salad, like my Brussels sprouts and kale salad!
- Green beans
- Air fryer Brussels sprouts
- Garlic bread
Expert tips for making this easy dinner
- Looking to save some time? Don’t sear the chicken! It does enhance the flavor of the chicken, but you could also season the chicken with salt and pepper and place it straight into the creamy mixture in the crockpot.
- If you need this slow cooker meal to be gluten-free, make sure you’re using gluten-free chicken broth and gluten-free cornstarch.
- Want to lighten up this dish? Use light or 10% heavy cream!
- Add some greens in at the end; add couple of handfuls of spinach to the creamy sun-dried tomato sauce and let the spinach wilt for a few minutes before serving.
Common questions
I have not tested this substitution, however, I would recommend using boneless skinless chicken thighs in place of chicken breasts. Furthermore, if the chicken thighs are on the smaller side, you may want to increase fro 4 to 6 or 8 chicken thighs, accounting for 2 per person for example.
I recommend re-heating in the microwave; on the stovetop in a pot or pan with the sauce over medium-low heat until warmed through; or, place in a baking dish in the oven with the sauce, cover with foil and reheat at 350F until warmed through.
A crockpot is a brand name for a slow cooker. Thus, you should be able to use most types of slow cookers for this recipe.
How to store leftover crockpot marry me chicken
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
More delicious dinners to love from the blog
One Pot Marry Me Butter Beans (30 minute recipe!)
Easy & Delicious One Pan French Onion Chicken Dinner
Sheet Pan Baked Feta Dinner with Vegetables & Beans
Easy and Delicious Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Kosher salt and ground pepper
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup diced yellow onion
- 4 small garlic cloves minced
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- ¼ tsp chili flakes
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon oil from sun-dried tomatoes jar optional
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil drained and chopped
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Optional: 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
Instructions
- Generously season the chicken breasts with kosher salt and ground pepper. Set aside.
- Add 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil to a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, sear the chicken breasts, 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown on each side. Remove the seared chicken breasts to a plate and set aside.
- Turn the crockpot to low heat.
- In a medium-sized bowl add the chicken broth, corn starch and heavy cream and whisk well until combined. Add this mixture to the slow cooker and then add the diced onion, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried thyme, chili flakes, salt, oil from the sun-dried tomatoes jar (if using), and the chopped sundried tomatoes. Whisk everything together.
- Place the seared chicken breasts into the crockpot and flip them around a few times in the sauce. Spread out in an even layer if possible.
- Cover the crockpot and cook on the low setting for 2.5-3.5 hours or until the chicken is cooked through to 165F. Flip the chicken breasts about halfway through the cooking time.
- Once the chicken is cooked through, remove the chicken breasts to a plate. Add the freshly grated parmesan cheese to the sauce in the crockpot and stir until the cheese is fully combined into the sauce. Next, stir in the fresh chopped basil and, if desired, stir in the spinach and put the chicken breasts back in. Place the lid back on for 5 minutes and the spinach has wilted (if using).
- Give the sauce one more stir, and then serve the chicken topped with the sauce and your choice of sides. Top with more fresh basil if desired.
Notes
- If you want to save a bit of time, you can skip the searing chicken step. While it does enhance the flavour of the chicken a bit, you can also season the chicken generously with salt and pepper and then place in the creamy mixture in the crockpot and slow cook!
- Make it gluten-free by using a gluten-free chicken broth.
- Lighten this dish a bit by using light or 10% cream instead of heavy cream
- Use parmesan cheese that is freshly grated since pre-packaged grated parmesan cheese won’t melt in the sauce properly when added at the end of the cooking time.
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