Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken Recipe

You might not know that "Marry Me Chicken" originated from a viral TikTok trend where the dish was so delectable it could supposedly prompt marriage proposals. This crock pot version transforms a simple chicken breast into a creamy, sun-dried tomato sensation that'll make your dinner guests swoon. With minimal prep and maximum flavor, you're about to discover why this recipe has captured the hearts of home cooks everywhere. Want to learn how to create this irresistible meal?

Recipe Highlights

• Arrange 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a single layer in the crock pot, seasoned with Italian herbs and patted dry.
• Pour heavy cream and chicken broth over the chicken to create a rich, creamy sundried tomato sauce while slow cooking.
• Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours, ensuring chicken is tender and reaches safe internal temperature.
• Serve the chicken over pasta, rice, or couscous, generously spooning the luxurious sauce and garnishing with fresh basil or Parmesan.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container, which can be reheated for quick and delicious meals within 3-4 days.

History

While Marry Me Chicken might seem like a modern culinary phenomenon, its roots trace back to the early 2000s when creative home cooks began experimenting with sundried tomato-based cream sauces.

You'll find this dish evolved from classic Italian-American cuisine, where rich, creamy sauces became staples in home cooking. The viral name emerged from social media platforms, where passionate home chefs shared their experiences of creating an allegedly "proposal-worthy" meal.

Key historical highlights include:

• Originated in Italian-American home kitchens
• Gained popularity through food blogs in early 2010s
• Spread rapidly through Pinterest and Instagram
• Transformed traditional cream sauce techniques

Restaurants and home cooks alike embraced this trend, elevating a simple chicken dish into a cultural culinary phenomenon.

Recipe

Marry Me Chicken is a delectable dish that perfectly balances creamy, tangy, and savory flavors, guaranteed to impress even the most discerning dinner guests. This slow cooker version transforms simple ingredients into a luxurious meal that requires minimal effort and delivers maximum taste.

The beauty of this crock pot recipe lies in its simplicity and ability to create tender, flavorful chicken that practically melts in your mouth. By allowing the ingredients to slowly simmer together, you'll develop a rich sauce that's both comforting and sophisticated.

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 jar (8 oz) sundried tomatoes in oil
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

Place the chicken breasts in the crock pot and pour chicken broth over them. Add the sundried tomatoes, including the oil from the jar, and then pour in the heavy cream. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning evenly across the top of the ingredients.

Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. The chicken is done when it's tender and fully cooked through, and the sauce has thickened to a creamy consistency. You can shred the chicken or serve the breasts whole, depending on your preference.

When serving, consider spooning the Marry Me Chicken over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes to soak up the delicious sauce. For best results, avoid lifting the lid during cooking, as this releases heat and extends the cooking time.

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and often taste even better the next day.

Cooking Steps

You'll start your Marry Me Chicken adventure by prepping ingredients and strategically arranging chicken breasts in your crock pot, ensuring even cooking and maximum flavor absorption.

Next, you'll sprinkle Italian seasoning over the chicken, creating a fragrant base that'll infuse the meat with herbaceous notes.

Finally, you'll pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, covering the chicken with a luxurious sauce that'll transform during slow cooking into a creamy, irresistible dish.

Step 1. Prep Ingredients and Arrange Chicken

First, gather your 4 chicken breasts and arrange them at the bottom of a clean, dry 6-quart crock pot, ensuring they're placed in a single, even layer without overlapping.

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to help seasonings adhere better and promote more even cooking. Check each breast for any excess fat or tough membrane, trimming as needed with a sharp knife.

• Select uniform-sized chicken breasts for consistent cooking
• Position breasts with smooth side facing upward
• Leave small gaps between pieces for heat circulation

Arrange the breasts carefully, allowing space between them to ensure each piece cooks evenly.

This strategic placement will help the chicken absorb the upcoming cream and sundried tomato sauce, creating a more flavorful final dish.

Step 2. Add Seasonings to Chicken

After carefully positioning the chicken breasts in your crock pot, you'll want to enhance their flavor profile with strategic seasoning techniques. Your Italian seasoning is the key to transforming this dish from ordinary to extraordinary.

Sprinkle the 2 teaspoons of seasoning evenly across the chicken, ensuring complete and consistent coverage. The blend typically includes dried herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary, which will infuse the chicken with a robust, Mediterranean-inspired taste.

• Focus on even distribution
• Use a light hand when sprinkling
• Aim for a thin, uniform layer of seasoning

The herbs will gradually release their aromatic compounds during slow cooking, permeating the chicken and contributing to the sauce's complex flavor profile.

Each sprinkle promises to elevate your Marry Me Chicken from good to absolutely irresistible.

Step 3. Add Cream and Broth

The second stage of crafting Marry Me Chicken involves introducing liquid ingredients that will transform your dish from simple protein to creamy, flavor-packed perfection.

You'll want to carefully pour 1 cup of chicken broth over the chicken breasts, ensuring they're well-coated and moistened. Next, slowly add 2 cups of heavy cream, which will create that signature luxurious sauce that gives this dish its irresistible appeal.

The liquid combination is critical: broth provides depth of flavor, while cream delivers richness and a velvety texture. When you pour these ingredients, aim for even distribution, allowing them to gently envelop the chicken.

The cream and broth will work together during slow cooking, gradually reducing and concentrating their flavors into a decadent sauce that'll have everyone at the table asking for seconds.

Step 4. Cover and Cook

Once your ingredients are nestled in the crock pot, secure the lid tightly to create a sealed environment that'll transform your chicken into a tender, flavor-packed masterpiece.

Set your slow cooker to the appropriate temperature – low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, depending on your schedule and desired cooking intensity.

Resist the temptation to lift the lid during cooking, as each peek releases crucial heat and extends the overall cooking time.

Monitor the sauce's consistency periodically; if it becomes too thick, add a splash of warm chicken broth to maintain that perfect creamy texture.

Trust the slow cooking process to break down the chicken's proteins, ensuring a melt-in-your-mouth result that'll have everyone asking for seconds.

Step 5. Serve and Garnish

Since your Marry Me Chicken has been lovingly slow-cooked to tender perfection, you'll want to plate it with both style and practicality.

Serve the chicken over a bed of:

• Creamy pasta
• Fluffy white rice
• Warm herbed couscous

Garnish your dish with fresh ingredients to elevate its visual appeal and flavor profile:

• Chopped fresh basil
• Finely grated Parmesan cheese
• Crushed red pepper flakes (for subtle heat)

For an elegant presentation, use a large serving platter and spoon the rich, creamy sauce generously over the chicken.

Ensure each portion gets a balanced mix of tender meat and sundried tomato sauce. If you've shredded the chicken, create an inviting mound that showcases the dish's luxurious texture and tantalizing aroma.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're a busy home cook or a culinary enthusiast, this Marry Me Chicken recipe offers a delightful solution for an impressive yet effortless meal.

The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and guaranteed crowd-pleasing flavor profile. You'll find that minimal prep work translates to maximum dining satisfaction, making it perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.

By leveraging your crock pot's slow-cooking magic, you'll transform basic ingredients into a restaurant-quality entrée that'll have everyone asking for seconds.

Remember to pair it with pasta or rice to soak up that luxurious sundried tomato cream sauce.

Whether you're cooking for family, friends, or that special someone, this recipe promises to elevate your home cooking game with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness.