Description
Marry Me Chicken elevates weeknight dinners with its creamy, herb-infused sauce and tender chicken breasts. Succulent ingredients blend seamlessly, promising a romantic meal that will charm dinner companions and make palates swoon.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ lbs (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup (75 grams) sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (oil-packed, drained)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme)
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped
- Cooked pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Meticulously coat chicken breasts with a robust blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian herbs, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Searing Technique: Heat olive oil in a skillet and expertly sear chicken to develop a rich, golden-brown exterior that locks in flavor and creates a textural foundation for the dish.
- Crockpot Assembly: Transfer seared chicken to the crockpot and introduce a decadent combination of heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and thyme, creating a luxurious flavor environment.
- Slow-Cooking Process: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours, allowing ingredients to harmonize and chicken to reach a perfect internal temperature of 165F, transforming into a tender, succulent masterpiece.
- Final Touches: Gently stir the sauce to achieve a velvety, uniform consistency that completely embraces the chicken, then garnish with fresh basil or parsley for a vibrant presentation.
- Serving Suggestion: Plate the creamy chicken atop pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes, creating a sumptuous meal that promises to delight and satisfy.
Notes
- Optimize Seasoning Technique: Massage seasonings directly into chicken breasts for deeper flavor penetration and more even coating.
- Prevent Dryness: Avoid overcooking by checking internal temperature early, as chicken breasts can quickly become tough in slow cookers.
- Enhance Sauce Richness: Briefly sauté sun-dried tomatoes and garlic before adding to crockpot to intensify their natural flavor depths and release aromatic oils.
- Dietary Adaptation Options: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk for dairy-free version, or use Greek yogurt for lower-fat alternative without compromising creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 634
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 661 mg
- Fat: 49 g
- Saturated Fat: 24 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 184 mg