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Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken keeps all the flavor of this viral recipe while making dinner mostly hands off. It’s light, creamy, comforting, and perfect served over pasta, rice, or potatoes for an easy dinner that feels special.
What is Marry Me Chicken?
Marry Me Chicken is a creamy chicken dish made with garlic, parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and often spinach, all simmered in a savory sauce. It became viral in 2016 as a bold and comforting dish that is supposedly good enough for a marriage proposal.
It is very similar to creamy Tuscan chicken, but is known for it’s rich and indulgent sauce. I created my own version which includes the same base of flavors, but lightens it up slightly so it’s not too heavy.
Why you’ll love this slow cooker version
This crockpot marry me chicken keeps all the creamy, comforting flavor of this dish but makes it even easier for busy weeknights. It’s a satisfying, high-protein chicken dinner with minimal prep.
- Hands off cooking: It’s perfect for busy weekdays when you don’t want to stand over a stove.
- Lightened cream sauce: The recipe uses a combination of milk and heavy cream to keep the sauce creamy without being too heavy.
- Filling and balanced: With tender chicken breasts and a creamy, flavorful sauce, this dish is satisfying on its own and pairs perfectly with pasta, rice, or vegetables to create a balanced meal.
- Great for meal prep: It reheats well, making it a reliable option to prep ahead. The flavors deepen over time, so leftovers taste just as good, if not better!
- Family-friendly: This is a dinner both kids and adults enjoy. It’s great for both weeknights and a special occasion.
If you love this dish, you’ll also really love my Marry Me Chicken Meatballs and Marry Me Chicken Pasta.
Ingredient Notes
You can find all of the ingredients for this dish at your local grocery store!
For full recipe instructions and complete list of ingredients, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- Chicken breasts: Use boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can substitute with boneless skinless chicken thighs for a slightly richer flavor.
- Chicken broth: Creates the base of the sauce and adds flavor. Use low-sodium if you want more control over the salt level.
- Garlic: Use freshly minced or microplaned garlic cloves.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes are preferred. Just drain them before using.
- Spinach: Adds color and nutrients. You can substitute with kale, if desired, but the kale may need a little extra time to soften.
- Tomato paste: Adds tomato flavor and helps thicken the creamy sauce.
- Heavy cream: You can use half and half instead of the heavy cream, if desired. But since there is only a small amount of it, I always recommend using the heavy cream.
- Milk: Use whole milk for the best consistency and flavor. If you swap with dairy free milk, the texture, flavor, and consistency will be different. I recommend using regular dairy milk for this recipe.
- Parmesan cheese: Use freshly shredded Parmesan cheese for the best texture and flavor.
- Lemon juice: A small squeeze balances the sauce.
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional): To add a subtle kick of heat, if desired.
How to Make Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken
With just a little prep, your slow cooker does the rest!
- Add the chicken: Place the chicken in the bottom of a slow cooker.
- Add the tomato broth mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, garlic, sundried tomatoes, tomato paste, crushed red pepper (if using), salt, and pepper. Pour over the chicken. Cook on low heat for 2 hours.
- Remove the chicken: Check for doneness. The internal temperature of the chicken should read 165°F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Add the cream mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, cream, and cornstarch. Slowly pour into the crockpot, stirring to combine.
- Cook the sauce: Return the chicken to the slow cooker. Cover and increase the heat to high. Cook for 30 minutes.
- Finish cooking: Stir in the spinach, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice. Allow the mixture to cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is wilted and the sauce is slightly thickened.
For the best results and delicious ways to serve Marry Me Chicken, see the tips and suggestions below!
jamie’s tips
Expert Recipe Tips
- Add dairy towards the end of cooking: Always add dairy towards the end of cooking so that the milk and cream don’t curdle. The Parmesan cheese should go in at the very end so the sauce stays smooth and creamy.
- Cook on low: Cooking on low heat in a slow cooker helps the chicken stay tender. You can finish the sauce on high heat. High heat for long periods can cause the chicken to dry out.
- Check chicken for doneness: Chicken is cooked through when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165°F.
- Pair with whole grains and vegetables for a balanced meal: This recipe offers high-quality protein, so you can pair it with any of the serving suggestions below for a well-rounded meal.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this creamy chicken over your favorite base to soak up all of the flavorful sauce. Here are a few delicious ways to serve it:
- Fresh basil: for garnish
- Pasta: fettuccine, penne, or linguine.
- White or brown rice
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Crusty bread (to soak up the sauce!)
- Zucchini noodles
- Smashed broccoli, roasted carrots, or green beans
Storage Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store the chicken with the sauce to keep it moist.
To freeze, store leftovers in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Freeze with pasta or rice and add those fresh when serving.
For meal prep, store in individual meal prep containers with pasta, rice, or vegetables.
Other Easy Chicken Dinners
If you’ve made and loved this Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and comments below!
Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast, (~2-3 large chicken breasts)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 6 cloves garlic, finely minced or microplaned
- ⅓ cup sundried tomatoes, chopped small
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon salt, more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, more to taste
- ¼-½ teaspoon crushed red pepper, (optional)
- ½ cup milk, (whole is recommended)
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 cups chopped spinach
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Add the chicken to the bottom of a slow cooker.
- In a large measuring cup or medium bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, garlic, sundried tomatoes, tomato paste, crushed red pepper (if using), salt, and pepper. Pour over the chicken.
- Cook on low heat for 2 hours.
- Check for doneness. Chicken is completely cooked through when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165°F. Remove the chicken from the crockpot and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, cream, and cornstarch. Slowly pour the mixture into the crockpot, stirring to combine.
- Return the chicken to the slow cooker. Cover and increase the heat to high. Cook for 30 minutes.
- Stir in the spinach, Parmesan, and lemon juice. Allow to cook uncovered, stirring occasionally until the spinach is wilted and the sauce is slightly thickened.
Notes
- Cook the chicken on low for best results.
- Check doneness of chicken: Cook until the chicken reaches 165°F and avoid overcooking to prevent dryness.
- Use freshly shredded Parmesan cheese: Pre-shredded cheese may not melt smoothy and can make the sauce grainy.
- Serve: Garnish with freshly chopped basil and additional Parmesan cheese. Serve with your favorite pasta, rice, or vegetables.
- Leftovers: Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an estimate.
Food photography by Marie-Catherine Dubé.
