Description
Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken is a creamy, flavorful slow-cooked dish featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a rich sauce of heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and Italian herbs. This comforting recipe is perfect for an easy dinner, requiring minimal prep and delivering maximum taste with a homemade freshness that melts in your mouth.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, julienned
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Garnish
- Fresh basil, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly on both sides with salt and black pepper to enhance their natural flavor.
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 4 minutes per side until they are golden brown. This step is optional but adds a richer flavor and color.
- Transfer to crock pot: Place the seared chicken breasts carefully into the crock pot, arranging them in a single layer.
- Sauté the garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook for approximately 1 minute until it becomes fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Make the sauce base: Pour chicken broth and heavy cream into the skillet with the garlic. Stir to combine and scrape any browned bits off the skillet bottom to incorporate extra flavor.
- Add flavorings: Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, dried oregano, and dried thyme. Add crushed red pepper flakes if you prefer a bit of heat.
- Combine sauce and chicken: Pour the prepared creamy sauce evenly over the chicken breasts in the crock pot, ensuring they are well covered.
- Slow cook: Cover the crock pot and cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and tender.
- Garnish and serve: Once cooking is complete, garnish with freshly chopped basil to add freshness and color before serving.
Notes
- Searing the chicken before slow cooking is optional, but it deepens the flavor and gives the chicken a nice texture.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or coconut cream for a lighter or dairy-free option, respectively.
- For a thicker sauce, remove the chicken after cooking and simmer the sauce on the stovetop until it reaches desired consistency.
- Add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms in the last hour of cooking for added nutrition.
- Serve with pasta, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
