Slow Cooker Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Recipe
This Slow Cooker Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken is a comforting, flavorful dish made with tender chicken breasts slow-cooked in a rich, creamy garlic and parmesan sauce. Perfect for busy days, this recipe delivers a seamless combination of Italian seasonings, tomato sauce, garlic, and butter, all slow-cooked to perfection. The creamy sauce thickens beautifully and pairs wonderfully with pasta, rice, or vegetables for a hearty meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (LOW) or 3-4 hours (HIGH)
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes to 8 hours 10 minutes (LOW) or 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes (HIGH)
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1½-2 lbs chicken breast
Liquids & Dairy
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Aromatics & Seasonings
- 1 tbsp minced garlic (or 3-4 cloves, finely diced)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Optional Toppings
- fresh chopped basil
- red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Seasoning Mix: In a small bowl, thoroughly mix together the Italian seasoning, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper to create a balanced seasoning blend that will flavor the chicken throughout the slow cooking process.
- Season the Chicken: Sprinkle about half of the seasoning mix evenly over the chicken breasts, gently rubbing it into the meat to ensure even coating and infusion of flavors. Carefully lay the seasoned chicken pieces into the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add Remaining Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Pour the tomato sauce and chicken broth over and around the chicken in the slow cooker. Add the minced garlic and the remaining half of the seasoning mixture. Lay the slices of butter evenly on top of the chicken to add richness as it melts during cooking. Cover the slow cooker with its lid.
- Cook the Chicken: Set the slow cooker to LOW and cook for 6-8 hours, or set to HIGH and cook for 3-4 hours. The chicken is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and becomes tender enough to shred or cut with ease.
- Finish the Sauce: Once the chicken is done cooking, uncover and stir in the heavy whipping cream and freshly grated parmesan cheese to the slow cooker. Cover and continue cooking on LOW for an additional 10-15 minutes to warm and slightly thicken the sauce, creating a rich and pourable texture.
- Serve: Serve the creamy garlic parmesan chicken as is over your preferred side such as pasta, rice, or vegetables. Optionally, garnish with fresh chopped basil and sprinkle with red pepper flakes for a bit of heat and fresh herbal notes.
Notes
- Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches 165°F internally and is tender.
- For a thicker sauce, after stirring in cream and parmesan, you can cook uncovered for a few extra minutes or remove chicken and reduce sauce on stovetop.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge up to 3 days and reheat gently to preserve sauce texture.
- Feel free to substitute chicken thighs for more moist and flavorful meat but adjust cooking times accordingly.
- The sauce pairs excellently with pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
