Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken

The rich aroma of sun-dried tomatoes and creamy garlic sauce slowly simmering away in your kitchen is just the beginning of the magic that is Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken. This irresistible dish earned its playful name because it’s supposedly so delicious that serving it might just lead to a marriage proposal! The tender chicken thighs bathed in a velvety sauce create a restaurant-quality meal with minimal effort. You’ll learn how to perfectly balance the tangy sun-dried tomatoes with the creamy sauce, and discover why this slow cooker version makes this famous recipe even more accessible for busy weeknights or special occasions.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

There’s something undeniably special about Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken that makes it stand out from ordinary chicken dishes. First, the convenience factor is unbeatable—simply add your ingredients to the slow cooker and let it work its magic while you go about your day. The result is chicken so tender it practically falls apart with the touch of a fork.

The velvety sauce creates a luxurious mouthfeel that belies how simple this dish is to prepare. The contrast between the tangy sun-dried tomatoes and the rich, creamy sauce creates a perfect flavor balance that keeps you coming back for more. Fresh herbs add brightness to the dish, while the parmesan cheese provides a subtle umami depth.

Best of all, this slow cooker version maintains all the flavors that made the original Marry Me Chicken famous, but with even more tenderness and depth as the ingredients have hours to meld together. It’s the perfect dish to impress guests or enjoy on a cozy night in—no wonder it’s earned its proposal-worthy name!

Ingredients

For this Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken, you’ll need:

• 2 lbs (900g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 tablespoon (15ml) olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
• 1 cup (240ml) chicken broth
• 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
• ½ cup (50g) freshly grated parmesan cheese
• ½ cup (75g) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)

The star ingredients are the sun-dried tomatoes, which provide a concentrated sweet-tart flavor, and the heavy cream, which creates the signature velvety sauce. Use high-quality parmesan cheese that you grate yourself for the best melting and flavor integration.

Pro Tips

Choose the right chicken: While the original Marry Me Chicken often uses chicken breasts, chicken thighs are perfect for the Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken version. Thighs remain juicy and tender during long cooking times and have more flavor than breasts. If you prefer breasts, reduce the cooking time by about an hour to prevent them from becoming dry.

Layer your flavors: For maximum depth of flavor, don’t skip browning the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker. This quick extra step creates a beautiful caramelization that adds another dimension to the dish. The Maillard reaction that occurs during browning creates compounds that enhance the overall taste of the finished dish.

Perfect your sauce consistency: If your sauce is too thin after cooking, transfer it to a saucepan and reduce it on the stovetop for 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, make a slurry with 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir it into the hot sauce in the crock pot. Cover and cook on high for an additional 15 minutes until thickened.

Instructions

Step 1: Season the chicken thighs generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches if necessary, sear the chicken thighs for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. You’re not cooking them through, just creating a flavorful crust.

Step 2: Transfer the browned chicken to your slow cooker. Sprinkle the minced garlic, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes evenly over the chicken.

Step 3: Scatter the chopped sun-dried tomatoes around and over the chicken. The tomatoes will infuse the dish with their intensely concentrated flavor as everything cooks together.

Step 4: Pour the chicken broth around the edges of the chicken (not directly on top, to preserve the seasonings). Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Step 5: When the chicken is cooked through, carefully remove it from the slow cooker and set aside on a plate, loosely covered with foil to keep warm.

Step 6: Stir the heavy cream and grated parmesan cheese into the liquid remaining in the slow cooker. Replace the lid and cook on high for an additional 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.

Step 7: Return the chicken to the slow cooker, spooning some of the creamy sauce over each piece. Allow it to heat through for about 5 minutes.

Step 8: Serve your Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken garnished with fresh chopped basil and additional parmesan cheese if desired. The fresh herbs provide a beautiful color contrast and bright flavor that balances the richness of the dish.

Variations

Spinach and Artichoke Marry Me Chicken: For an extra vegetable boost, add 1 cup of quartered artichoke hearts (drained) along with the sun-dried tomatoes, and stir in 2 cups of fresh spinach during the last 15 minutes of cooking. This variation adds beautiful color, nutrients, and complementary flavors to the classic slow cooker marry me chicken recipe.

Tuscan Marry Me Chicken: Enhance the Italian flavors by adding 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning blend instead of just oregano, and incorporate ¼ cup of finely diced red bell pepper at the beginning of cooking. Finish with a tablespoon of capers for a briny pop that complements the creamy sauce perfectly.

Dairy-Free Option: For those avoiding dairy, substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk and omit the parmesan or use a dairy-free alternative. The result won’t be identical to the original Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken, but it will still be delicious with a slightly different flavor profile that works wonderfully with the Mediterranean ingredients.

Storage and Serving

Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken stores beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The flavors actually continue to develop, making it possibly even more delicious the next day. To reheat, warm gently on the stovetop or microwave at 50% power to prevent the cream sauce from separating.

For a complete meal, serve this chicken over pasta—linguine or fettuccine are excellent choices that stand up well to the rich sauce. For a lower-carb option, try it over zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice, which allow the sauce to shine.

For an impressive dinner party presentation, serve the Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken on a large platter with the sauce poured over top, garnished generously with fresh basil and shaved parmesan. Add a side of crusty bread for soaking up every last drop of the incredible sauce—this is often guests’ favorite part!

FAQs

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Yes, you can substitute chicken breasts for thighs in this Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken recipe. However, reduce the cooking time by about an hour to prevent them from drying out, as breasts have less fat than thighs.

What if I don’t have sun-dried tomatoes in oil?
If you only have dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrate them by soaking in hot water for 30 minutes, then drain and proceed with the recipe. Add an extra tablespoon of olive oil to compensate for the missing oil from the jarred tomatoes.

Can this recipe be frozen?
Cream-based sauces can sometimes separate when frozen and thawed. If you want to freeze this dish, it’s best to freeze the chicken in the sauce before adding the cream and cheese. When reheating, thaw completely and add the cream and cheese fresh.

Is this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, the Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken recipe as written is gluten-free. Just double-check your chicken broth label to ensure it doesn’t contain any gluten ingredients.

Can I make this in an Instant Pot instead?
Absolutely! Use the sauté function to brown the chicken, then add all ingredients except cream and cheese. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes with a 10-minute natural release. Remove chicken, add cream and cheese using the sauté function until thickened, then return chicken to the sauce.

Conclusion

This Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken is comfort food at its finest—tender chicken bathed in a creamy, savory sauce with bright bursts of sun-dried tomato flavor in every bite. It’s the kind of dish that transforms an ordinary weeknight into something special, without demanding hours of your attention in the kitchen. Whether you’re cooking for someone special or simply treating yourself, this slow cooker version delivers all the flavor that made the original recipe famous, with the added benefit of hands-off cooking. Give it a try and discover why this dish has earned its charming, proposal-worthy name!

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