Description
Crockpot Marry Me Chicken is a rich and creamy slow-cooked dish featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a flavorful sauce of diced tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil. This comforting recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner with minimal prep time, yielding a savory, restaurant-quality meal from the convenience of your crockpot.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 tablespoon dried basil
Thickening Agent
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup cold water
Instructions
- Season Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes to build a flavorful base.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then sear the chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown, preventing them from cooking fully.
- Transfer to Crockpot: Place the seared chicken breasts into the crockpot, preparing for slow cooking.
- Prepare Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together diced tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and basil to create a creamy, savory sauce.
- Add Sauce to Crockpot: Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken in the crockpot, ensuring it’s well coated.
- Cook Chicken: Cover the crockpot and cook on low heat for 4-5 hours or high heat for 2-3 hours until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Make Cornstarch Slurry: About 30 minutes before serving, combine cornstarch and cold water to form a slurry, which will thicken the sauce.
- Thicken Sauce: Stir the slurry into the crockpot, then continue cooking so the sauce thickens and develops a luscious texture.
- Adjust Seasoning: Once cooking is complete, taste the sauce and adjust salt or pepper as needed for perfect flavor balance.
- Serve: Serve the chicken with the creamy tomato sauce over pasta, rice, or your favorite vegetables for a hearty and comforting meal.
Notes
- For spicier flavor, do not omit the red pepper flakes.
- Searing the chicken adds flavor and texture but can be skipped if short on time.
- Use fresh basil for a brighter herb flavor, but dried basil works well too.
- This dish pairs excellently with pasta, but mashed potatoes or steamed vegetables are great alternatives.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently to maintain creaminess.
