This Crockpot Marry Me Chicken features tender, juicy chicken breasts in a rich, creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan. Enjoy over pasta or rice for an easy, satisfying weeknight dinner with incredible wow factor!
If you love this dish, don’t miss our Tuscan Chicken Pasta, which has similar flavors, all made in one pot and in 30 minutes.
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
When it comes to flavorful and easy chicken dinners, it doesn’t get much better than this Marry Me Chicken. Since we’re preparing it in the crockpot, the prep time is literal minutes. Just sear the chicken, make the sauce, and dump it all in the crockpot. 4 hours later, you’ll be treated to a fantastic tasting meal.
Served over pasta with a side or two, this creamy Tuscan chicken pasta works as both a casual weeknight dinner or a nicer dinner with friends as well.
What Is Marry Me Chicken?
Marry Me Chicken is an easy chicken breast recipe made with a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce, parmesan cheese, and just a few other ingredients. Though simple to make, it’s SUPER flavorful and makes a wonderful dinner for any occasion.
Why Is It Called Marry Me Chicken?
The idea dates back decades that a dish this delicious can furnish a marriage proposal from the loved one you serve it to. Myth? Probably. But there’s no question that all the ingredients in this creamy chicken dish are really married to one another in the best possible way, producing the most incredible flavor.
Ingredients Needed
This crockpot chicken recipe is made with broth, heavy cream, simple seasonings, and just a handful of other ingredients.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Chicken breast – Boneless, skinless.
- Salt & pepper – To season the chicken.
- Olive oil – For sautéing the chicken.
- Butter – For a rich sauce.
- Garlic – Use fresh.
- Chicken broth – The base of the sauce. I prefer to use low-sodium chicken broth to avoid an overly salty dish.
- Heavy cream – Adds the rich creaminess to the sauce.
- Cornstarch – Thickens the sauce.
- Sun-dried tomatoes – You can use either sun-dried tomatoes in oil or dried, but the type in the bag works better for this recipe. If you use the ones in oil, make sure you drain them from the oil.
- Fresh thyme -The fresh thyme can be swapped out with 1/2 teaspoon of the dried thyme, if preferred.
- Spices – Dried Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes add additional flavor to the sauce.
- Parmesan cheese – Freshly grating parmesan from a block is key, as it will provide much better flavor and melt easier.
- Basil – I like to serve this creamy Tuscan chicken topped with julienned basil leaves.
- Linguine – Cooked linguine is what I typically serve this over but any pasta will work.
How to Make Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
Here’s how to make this addictive sun-dried tomato chicken in the crockpot.
(Don’t miss the detailed printable recipe card below.)
- Season the chicken. Pound the chicken breasts into an even thickness, then season with salt and pepper.
- Sear the chicken. In a nonstick skillet with olive oil, cook the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes per side until browned. Transfer chicken to the crockpot.
- Prepare the sauce. Add the butter to the skillet, along with the garlic. Cook just until fragrant then deglaze the pan with the chicken stock. In a separate bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and cornstarch. Then stir into the skillet and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add everything to the crockpot. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken, then mix in the tomatoes, thyme, and spices.
- Cook. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
- Add the parmesan. Stir in the parmesan.
- Enjoy. Serve over pasta and top with basil.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips for perfecting your crockpot Marry Me chicken.
- Thin out the sauce. If the sauce is thicker than you’d like, simply add some extra chicken broth until you get a thinner sauce.
- Do I have to sear the chicken first? Searing the chicken before putting it in the crockpot really locks in moisture and also gives the chicken extra flavor. So while you could technically get away without doing it, I highly recommend not skipping this step.
- Can I dump all the ingredients into the crockpot so I don’t have to cook anything on the stove? You need to mix the chicken stock with the cornstarch/cream and simmer before adding it into the crockpot. The sauce will be too thin if you skip the stovetop cooking.
What to Serve with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
I love to serve Marry Me Chicken over linguine or other pasta, with slices of chicken and sauce over top. You can also serve it over rice or even cauliflower rice. For sides, consider some breadsticks or garlic bread, a simple Caesar salad, or some roasted broccoli.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
Marry Me Chicken leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and will keep for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop, stirring frequently, adding in a bit of chicken broth to loosen up the sauce again. Note that any pasta or rice should be stored separately to prevent it from soaking up the sauce.
More Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes:
- Crockpot BBQ Chicken
- Honey Garlic Chicken
- Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing
- Slow Cooker Italian Lemon Chicken
- Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Marry Me Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 boneless chicken breasts (1 & 1/2 pounds total)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 & 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 basil leaves , julienned, for garnish
- cooked linguine or rice, for serving
Instructions
- Spray a 6 quart crockpot with nonstick spray.
- Gently pound out the thicker end of each chicken breast so they're an even thickness. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Warm the olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the chicken and cook each side for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown. Transfer the chicken to the crockpot.
- Add the butter to the skillet and once melted, stir in the garlic until fragrant, 20 seconds or so.
- Deglaze the pan with the chicken stock.
- Whisk together the heavy cream and cornstarch in a small bowl. Stir the slurry into the skillet and allow it to gently simmer for 2 minutes. Pour the mixture into the crockpot.
- Mix in the tomatoes, thyme leaves, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F and the chicken is cooked through and tender. (Time can vary based on the size of the chicken breasts.)
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese. (If the sauce seems overly thick, you can thin it out with a bit of chicken broth.)
- Serve over cooked pasta or rice with a bit of sauce and top with the fresh basil.
Can I substitute Half and Half for the heavy cream?
Thank you
Would chicken thighs work with this recipe?
Can this be cooked on high in the crockpot? If so, how much time?
I’ve never tested this recipe on high. I think the chicken might end up dry.
First time I made this, next time I think I will double the sauce recipe. It was a huge hit tho!
My family absolutely loved this recipe! It was easy to make and delicious
Easy delicious dinner, thank you for sharing!
Did not receive a proposal, but I was as good as promised! I will sure dot this again and again! Absolutly perfect receipe.
This was amazing, thank you!