Description
This Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken is a comforting slow-cooked dish featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a creamy, flavorful sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, white wine, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for an easy yet elegant meal, it is delicious served over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
Cooking Fats
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp oil (sun-dried tomato oil preferred for extra flavor)
Sauce
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- ½ cup white wine (or chicken broth)
- ½ cup heavy cream (or sour cream)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp cold water (optional, for thickening)
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnish and flavor)
- Extra Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. Season both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, dried Italian herbs, garlic powder, and paprika to build a flavorful base.
- Heat fats and sear chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add the oil. Once hot, sear the chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes on each side until they develop a golden-brown crust to lock in juices.
- Transfer chicken to slow cooker: Place the seared chicken pieces into the slow cooker to prepare for the slow cooking process.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes and liquid: Sprinkle the chopped sun-dried tomatoes evenly over the chicken, then pour the white wine or chicken broth to add moisture and depth of flavor.
- Slow cook the chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 1.5 to 2 hours, or on HIGH for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) and is tender.
- Prepare the sauce: Remove the chicken and set aside. Stir in the heavy cream or sour cream into the slow cooker, mixing well and warming through to create a rich base for the sauce.
- Thicken the sauce (optional): If desired, add the cornstarch slurry to the sauce for thickening, then cook on HIGH for an additional 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened to your preference.
- Add cheese and herbs: Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese along with chopped fresh parsley or basil for added flavor and freshness.
- Combine chicken with sauce: Return the chicken breasts to the slow cooker, gently coating them with the creamy sauce to marry all flavors.
- Serve: Serve the chicken warm, spooning the luscious sauce over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes for a hearty meal.
- Garnish: Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs if desired to enhance presentation and flavor.
Notes
- Using sun-dried tomato oil instead of regular oil adds an extra layer of flavor to the dish.
- White wine can be substituted with chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version without losing richness.
- To ensure the sauce is creamy but not too thick, add the cornstarch slurry gradually and adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Make sure to sear the chicken well to lock in juices and add texture before slow cooking.
- This recipe pairs wonderfully with pasta, steamed rice, or mashed potatoes, but can also be served alongside steamed vegetables for a lighter meal.
- For a lower fat version, substitute sour cream for heavy cream and reduce the butter amount.
