Dump and Go Marry Me Chicken (Printable)
Slow-cooked chicken in a sun-dried tomato and Parmesan cream sauce—tender, rich, effortless comfort for weeknights.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each)
→ Dairy
02 - 1 cup heavy cream
03 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
→ Vegetables
05 - ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and sliced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Liquids
07 - ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
→ Spices and Seasonings
08 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb blend
09 - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
10 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
11 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Fresh Herbs
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (for garnish, optional)
# Steps:
01 - Place the chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, chicken broth, softened cream cheese, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, dried Italian herbs, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes until smooth and well combined.
03 - Stir the sliced sun-dried tomatoes into the cream sauce mixture.
04 - Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken breasts, ensuring each piece is well coated.
05 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, or until the chicken is fork-tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
06 - Using two forks, shred the chicken directly in the sauce for a pulled texture, or leave the breasts whole for a plated presentation.
07 - Ladle into bowls or over mashed potatoes, steamed rice, or pasta. Finish with a scattering of fresh basil leaves.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It genuinely tastes like you spent hours at the stove when you barely lifted a finger.
- The cream sauce is so silky and rich that people will assume you picked it up from a restaurant.
- You probably have most of these ingredients sitting in your kitchen right now.
02 -
- Lifting the crockpot lid even once during cooking releases enough heat to add thirty minutes to your cook time.
- Cream cheese that is not fully softened will leave small white lumps in your sauce that never fully dissolve.
03 -
- Pound the chicken to an even thickness before adding it to the crockpot so the thinnest parts do not turn to mush while the thickest parts finish cooking.
- A pinch of nutmeg in the sauce sounds strange but adds a warmth that makes people wonder what your secret is.