There’s something incredibly comforting about a creamy, flavorful chicken that practically melts in your mouth – and that’s exactly what you get with the Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Recipe. It’s a fuss-free, hands-off meal that fills your kitchen with warm, inviting aromas and leaves everyone asking for seconds.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Recipe is one of my go-to weeknight dinners because it’s simple but feels special – creamy sauce, savory herbs, and that burst of sun-dried tomato flavor all slow-cooked to tender perfection.
- Hands-Off Cooking: You get all the rich flavors without standing over the stove, thanks to the crockpot doing the heavy lifting.
- Rich, Creamy Sauce: The combination of heavy cream and Parmesan creates a luscious sauce that clings to every bite.
- Bright Sun-Dried Tomato Kick: Those chewy bits add just the right tang and depth without overpowering the dish.
- Super Versatile: Serve it over pasta, spaghetti squash, or with crusty bread – it’s a meal everyone will enjoy your way.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Carefully picked ingredients make this Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Recipe special. Each element plays its part to deliver that creamy, tangy, perfectly balanced dish – and I’ll share some tips to help you shop smart and prep like a pro.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Easy to cook evenly and soak up all those luscious flavors without the fuss of bones.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Adds concentrated tomato flavor and a pleasant chew; if packed in oil, drain well to keep sauce from getting greasy.
- Heavy cream: Creates that dreamy sauce texture that makes this recipe feel indulgent but simple.
- Grated Parmesan cheese: Brings nuttiness and a salty umami kick that rounds out the creaminess perfectly.
- Chicken broth: The base for the sauce that keeps everything moist and tender while infusing savory depth.
- Garlic and Italian seasoning: Classic herb and spice blend that layers flavor without overwhelming the chicken’s natural taste.
- Cornstarch: Helps thicken the sauce so it’s rich and clingy without being runny.
- Olive oil and cooking spray: For browning the chicken, adding a subtle fruity flavor and encouraging that golden crust before slow cooking.
Make It Your Way
One of the things I love about this Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Recipe is how easy it is to tweak to your taste. Whether you like it spicy, dairy-free, or packed with more veggies, this recipe adapts beautifully.
- Variation: I’ve often swapped out the heavy cream for canned coconut milk to make it dairy-free, and honestly, the creamy texture stays just as satisfying!
- Spice it up: Adding a pinch of red pepper flakes at the start can give the dish a gentle kick that my family adores.
- Extra veggies: Throw in sliced mushrooms or baby spinach towards the last hour of cooking to sneak in some greens.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Recipe
Step 1: Sear the chicken for flavor
First things first, heat up your skillet with a little cooking spray and olive oil. Once shimmering, add your chicken breasts and sear them for 2-3 minutes per side. Don’t cook through—just get a nice golden crust. This step locks in juices and layers in that gorgeous flavor, plus it helps your sauce come out richer.
Step 2: Whisk up the broth mixture
While the chicken is browning, mix chicken broth and cornstarch in the crockpot base until smooth. Add your minced garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper, then whisk again until everything's combined. This slurry will gently thicken into your silky sauce.
Step 3: Slow cook the chicken with sun-dried tomatoes
Drop the seared chicken breasts into the crockpot, turning once so each piece gets coated in the savory broth. Sprinkle the chopped sun-dried tomatoes over the top, cover, and set your crockpot to low for 3 to 4 hours. This gentle heat lets all the flavors infuse and your chicken turns gloriously tender.
Step 4: Finish the creamy sauce and serve
Once the chicken is cooked through, transfer it to a plate. Stir heavy cream and Parmesan into the crockpot juices, mixing until smooth and creamy. Return the chicken to the sauce and turn it a few times to get beautifully coated. That’s it—now serve with your favorite sides and dig in!
Top Tip
After making this Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Recipe several times, I’ve found these tips make all the difference between good and exceptional results. They’ll help you get the most flavor and perfect texture every time.
- Don’t skip searing: It might feel like an extra step, but browning adds an incredible depth of flavor you can’t get from slow cooking alone.
- Cut sun-dried tomatoes finely: Chopping small ensures they distribute their tangy, chewy bursts evenly without overwhelming any single bite.
- Whisk broth and cornstarch well: Make sure no lumps remain before slow cooking to avoid a grainy sauce.
- Be patient with the slow cooker: Cooking on low gives you tender, juicy chicken that’s worth the wait—avoid the temptation to crank up the heat!
How to Serve Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping this dish with fresh basil leaves for a pop of color and freshness that cuts through the richness. A little extra grated Parmesan is always welcome too—it amps up the cheesy goodness and looks pretty on the plate.
Side Dishes
My favorite way to serve Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Recipe is over hot angel hair pasta, letting that creamy sauce soak into every strand. When I’m in a lighter mood, I swap pasta for shredded spaghetti squash—it still tastes indulgent but with fewer carbs.
Creative Ways to Present
For dinner parties, I sometimes plate the chicken over a bed of lemony arugula with toasted pine nuts on top. The slight bitterness balances all the creamy richness, making it feel fresh and fancy without extra work.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator where it keeps beautifully for up to 3 days. The sauce thickens a bit when chilled, but it tastes even better the next day once reheated.
Freezing
This recipe freezes surprisingly well. I portion it out into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 2 months. When you thaw it gently in the fridge overnight, the flavors stay vibrant and the chicken remains moist.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers on the stovetop over medium-low heat with a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen the sauce. Stir gently to prevent the cheese from clumping, and heat just until warmed through to keep the chicken tender.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Chicken thighs are juicier and work wonderfully in the crockpot, just expect a slightly richer flavor and tender texture.
While searing isn’t mandatory, it really enhances the flavor by creating browned crusts that deepen the dish's complexity. It also helps keep the chicken juicy.
Yes! Just double-check your chicken broth and cornstarch brands to ensure they’re gluten-free—which most are—and you’re good to go.
The sauce thickens nicely thanks to the cornstarch slurry, but it stays creamy and pourable, perfect for spooning over pasta or veggies without being gluey.
Final Thoughts
This Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Recipe is one of those dishes I keep coming back to because it’s as reliable as it is delicious. It feels fancy but takes almost no effort, and the whole family always loves it. Give it a try—you might just find your new favorite weeknight go-to, just like I did!
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Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Low Salt
Description
This Crockpot Marry Me Chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce. Perfect for a fuss-free dinner served over angel hair pasta or spaghetti squash, it combines savory seasonings with a rich, cheesy sauce for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ¼ lbs)
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 garlic cloves, minced (1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (drain, if packed in oil), chopped
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Optional for Serving
- Hot, cooked angel hair pasta or cooked and shredded spaghetti squash
- Fresh basil leaves
- Additional Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Sear Chicken: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, mist with cooking spray, add olive oil, and heat until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned but not cooked through.
- Prepare Slow Cooker Base: Meanwhile, add chicken broth and cornstarch to the slow cooker and whisk well to create a smooth slurry without lumps.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper into the broth mixture and whisk again.
- Add Chicken to Slow Cooker: Place seared chicken breasts into the slow cooker, turning once to coat them evenly with the broth mixture.
- Top with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Sprinkle chopped sun-dried tomatoes evenly over the chicken breasts.
- Cook the Chicken: Cover and cook on the low setting for 4 hours until chicken is thoroughly cooked and tender.
- Finish the Sauce: Remove chicken onto a plate. Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese to the slow cooker liquid and stir to combine.
- Coat Chicken in Sauce: Return the chicken pieces to the slow cooker and turn them several times to coat with the creamy sauce.
- Serve: Serve the chicken topped with sauce. Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan cheese if desired. Accompany with hot cooked angel hair pasta or shredded spaghetti squash.
Notes
- For a low-carb option, serve with spaghetti squash instead of pasta.
- You can use regular tomatoes if sun-dried are not available, but the flavor will be milder.
- Do not overcook the chicken during searing; just browning is enough to keep it tender in the crockpot.
- This recipe works well with skinless chicken thighs if preferred, adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently to preserve sauce texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ of the chicken and sauce
- Calories: 346 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 745 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg
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