Description

Irresistible Marry Me Chicken is creamy, garlicky, and loaded with sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan—an easy slow cooker dinner that tastes like a restaurant favorite.

This crock pot marry me chicken makes tender chicken breasts (or thighs) in a silky Italian herb cream sauce perfect for pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.

Save this creamy sun-dried tomato chicken for date night, family dinner, or meal prep—one pot, big flavor, minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale

2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika (smoked or sweet)
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tbsp olive oil (optional, for searing)
4 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
2 cups baby spinach (optional)
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or parsley
1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp cold water (optional, to thicken)

Instructions

1. Pat chicken dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
2. Optional: sear chicken in a hot skillet with olive oil for 2–3 minutes per side until golden; transfer to slow cooker.
3. Whisk chicken broth, heavy cream, garlic, and red pepper flakes in the slow cooker.
4. Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes, then nestle chicken into the sauce.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours (breasts) or 4–5 hours (thighs) until chicken reaches 165°F.
6. Transfer chicken to a plate; stir Parmesan into the hot sauce until melted and smooth.
7. If you want a thicker sauce, whisk cornstarch with cold water, stir it in, and cook on HIGH for 10–15 minutes until glossy.
8. Optional: stir in spinach until just wilted.
9. Return chicken to the sauce, spoon sauce over top, and garnish with basil or parsley.
10. Serve hot over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes with extra Parmesan.

Notes

For maximum flavor, sear the chicken first—those browned bits translate into a richer sauce.
Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes are best; chop smaller for more even flavor throughout.
Stir Parmesan in off heat or on low to keep the sauce silky (high heat can make cheese clump).
If the sauce tastes flat, add a small pinch of salt or a squeeze of lemon at the end to brighten.
Half-and-half works, but the sauce will be thinner—use the cornstarch slurry or add 2–4 oz cream cheese.
Leftovers thicken in the fridge; loosen with a splash of broth or cream when reheating.
Add spinach at the end so it stays bright green and doesn’t overcook.
Best sides: fettuccine, penne, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread for sauce-sopping.
Food safety: cook chicken to 165°F and refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Freeze up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Category: Dinner
Method: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: American-Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce (about 1/6 recipe)
Calories: 465
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 680mg
Fat: 28g
Saturated Fat: 15g
Unsaturated Fat: 11g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 7g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 44g
Cholesterol: 160mg

Keywords: Irresistible Marry Me Chicken, marry me chicken crock pot, slow cooker marry me chicken, creamy sun-dried tomato chicken, creamy garlic parmesan chicken