Slow cooker marry me chicken is an Italian-inspired recipe made with tender, juicy chicken slow-cooked in a seasoned, rich, buttery cream sauce with sundried tomatoes and basil. It’s fancy enough for a special occasion but easy enough to make throughout the week. Serve over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes for a tasty meal everyone will devour!
Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken
Slow cooker marry me chicken is a wonderfully flavorful dish made with juicy seared chicken breasts smothered in a thick, creamy sauce. The combination of sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil is the perfect complement to the rich sauce.
Other than browning the meat it is a dump-and-set recipe, exactly the kind of flavors and aromas you want to come home to at the end of the day.
Serve it over white rice or pasta or on its own with a simple side of veggies, this marry me chicken is right up there with anything you’d order at a high-end Italian restaurant!
What is Marry Me Chicken?
This recipe is similar to Tuscan chicken but with basil instead of baby spinach.
It was given its name based on the idea that anyone who made this dish for their significant other would automatically get a marriage proposal! Any recipe that can attract such a name HAS to be good, right?
Traditionally made in a skillet on the stovetop. this chicken smothered in the creamy sundried tomato sauce has since been adapted to suit all kinds of cooking methods.
The slow cooker version is my favorite on days when I don’t have time to stand over the stove.
Why you’ll love it
Easy chicken dinner – A fancy dish that isn’t actually that fancy. The simple ingredients are easy to find and probably in your fridge, and it’s an effortless meal to make.
Delicious cream sauce – The perfectly cooked chicken is good, but oh my word that sauce! Creamy, buttery, and rich infused with herbs and spices, this sauce is worth eating by the spoonful.
Customizable – Add extra veggies, make it spicy, or serve it with your favorite sides. There are plenty of ways to make this creamy chicken dish your own.
Family favorite – The whole family loves this delicious chicken recipe.
Helpful Tools
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- Chicken – I make this recipe using about 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts. Breasts are the classic cut for this recipe, however if you prefer dark meat you can certainly use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead. Chicken tenderloins can also be used, they’ll just cook a bit faster.
- Chicken Stock – This liquid gets added to the crockpot as part of the base of the sauce. I love the extra flavor my homemade chicken stock or chicken broth adds, but you can also use store bought regular or low sodium stock.
- Cornstarch – Needed to thicken up the cream sauce.
- Heavy Cream – Used to make the sauce nice and creamy. The higher the fat content the richer it is, so don’t skimp on the heavy cream!
- Minced Garlic – An aromatic added to this dish that elevates this chicken dish as garlic usually does!
- Seasonings – Italian seasoning, onion powder, and paprika.
- Sundried Tomatoes – The signature aspect of this special dish. Sundried tomatoes are naturally sweet and acidic so it provides both at the same time. If they’re drenched in oil, pat them dry a bit before adding.
- Butter – Added for a delicious buttery flavor but also helps to smooth out the sauce.
- Basil – Optional garnish, but fresh chopped basil adds a bit of sweet, slightly spicy flavor in addition to the pop of color to finish it off. Highly recommended!
How to make Marry Me Chicken
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Jump- Step One: Brown chicken breasts in a large skillet over medium-high heat. You’re not cooking it through, just searing it for about 2 minutes per side.
- Step Two: Transfer the seared chicken to the basin of the crockpot.
- Step Three: In a mixing bowl, whisk the chicken stock, cornstarch, and heavy cream together. Then add the garlic and all seasoning.
- Step Four: Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and top with sundried tomatoes and butter.
- Step Five: Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours. Once done, allow it to rest for a few minutes to keep the juices in. Serve it whole or slice it up. Garnish with chopped basil and freshly grated parmesan cheese if you’d like. Enjoy!
Every slow cooker runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own slow cooker and adjusted as needed.
What to serve with it
This is the type of dish with a sauce you want every last drop of! Serving it with a carb like rice, garlic mashed potatoes, or pasta to absorb all of those incredible flavors.
Traditional spaghetti, angel hair pasta, fettuccine, penne, or fusilli are also great choices.
You can also keep it low carb with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles or even just a side salad.
Keep a basket of 1-hour dinner rolls on the table for the end when you want to scoop up that last bit of sauce. Trust me, it’s pretty much the law.
- Do not use butterflied chicken breasts or chicken cutlets. They will cook too quickly and possibly dry out.
- For even cooking use the same size pieces.
- Add a bit of the oil from the sundried tomato jar to the skillet for extra flavor when browning the chicken.
- Try adding sliced mushrooms to the slow cooker, too. If you want to add fresh spinach, add it during the last 30 minutes of cook time.
- For a lighter sauce you can substitute heavy cream for half and half but it will be thinner.
- Swap the sundried tomatoes for roasted red peppers if you prefer the flavor.
- For a bit of heat add some red pepper flakes to the cream sauce.
Storage & Leftovers
How to store leftovers
Keep any leftover chicken, sauce included, in an airtight container. Allow it to completely cool before covering it with the lid.
How long will it last in the fridge?
For up to 3 days. Enjoy leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day.
Can I freeze marry me chicken?
You can store leftovers in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. It’s not highly recommended though because of the change in texture cream sauces have once thawed.
How to reheat leftovers
The microwave is all it takes, especially if it’s just a serving or two. You can also use a skillet on the stovetop. Add a splash of water or broth if you need to thin out the sauce.
FAQs
Is this recipe gluten free?
Yes, it is, as long as you use cornstarch and don’t swap it for flour, it’ll stay that way. Check the labels on your seasonings too, because gluten is a sneaky bugger sometimes.
Does the chicken have to be covered in water in slow cooker?
I get this question a lot in my slow cooker group. No, you don’t need to add water as we’re adding other liquids and the chicken itself will give off moisture. Cooking low and slow helps to retain the moisture while cooking on high can lead to drier chicken.
Do I use sundried tomatoes in oil?
You can use sundried tomatoes in oil or ones that come dry in a bag, it’s up to you. If using the ones in oil, pat them dry beforehand.
Do I have to sear the chicken first?
Technically no, because you can add raw chicken to a slow cooker basin. I do recommend it though!
It’s a way to give the chicken a golden brown color that it wouldn’t achieve in the crockpot, and it helps to lock in moisture. So, yes…do it!
It only takes a couple minutes per side to lock in the flavor so you end up with juicy chicken breasts.
Need more slow cooker chicken recipes? Try these:
Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan with Tortellini
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Dill Pickle Chicken
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs with Potatoes and Carrots
Click here for my entire collection of slow cooker recipes.
Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts about 4 breasts (1.5-2 lbs)
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese grated
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ cup sundried tomatoes sliced into strips
- 4 tablespoons butter cubed
- basil for garnish
Instructions
- Trim any fat from the chicken breasts and season both sides with salt & pepper.2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, salt & pepper
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, add a turn of olive oil. Once heated, add the seasoned chicken and brown each side for about 2 minutes per side. You are not looking to cook the chicken through, just to add color and lock in juices.1 Tablespoon olive oil
- Place the seared chicken in the basin of a 6 quart slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken stock, cornstarch, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, and paprika.1 ½ cups chicken stock, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 cup heavy cream, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon paprika
- Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken.
- Top with the sundried tomatoes and cubed butter.½ cup sundried tomatoes, 4 tablespoons butter
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Garnish with chopped basil and serve over cooked pasta.basil
Notes
- If you prefer dark meat, chicken thighs can be used.
- Serve over noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes.
- For added vegetables, add fresh baby spinach in the last 30 minutes of cook time and stir until wilted. Sliced mushrooms can also be added.
- Top with chopped basil and additional parmesan cheese.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Every slow cooker runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own slow cooker and adjusted as needed.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag me on Instagram @melissa_pplates so I can see!Originally published March 9, 2023; photos updated May 31, 2024
Family loved this and asked that it be in rotation! Followed the recipe to the letter.
I was craving this and have heard such good things about it that i had to make it and boy was it good! So easy to make and even my kids LOVED it, they can be picky as 2 and 3 year olds.
I love when that happens 🙂
Should chicken breasts be sliced to make two smaller thinner breasts? Pounded?
No, in the slow cooker I tend to leave them as is – thinner will cook fast (risk drying out).
Could this recipe be done in an Instant Pot??
I’m sure it could, but I haven’t tested to give you directions.
We made the “Marry me Chicken” slow cooker today!!
Turned out AMAZING! 🤩
Super easy and great easy to follow recipe!
Probably the best tasting crock pot recipe we have tried!
We will definitely try the others!
Thanks so much for putting these together!!
Thank you, Gord!
Everybody had me worried that this was going to curdle!! But it turned out great!
yay 🙂