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This Crockpot Marry Me Chicken is a healthier twist on the classic dish, made lighter without sacrificing flavor. Blended cottage cheese replaces heavy cream, creating a rich, creamy sauce with less fat and more protein. Slow-cooked with tender chicken and sun-dried tomatoes, this easy dinner is perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
If you love the flavors of Marry Me Chicken, be sure to try my Marry Me Chicken Meatballs, Marry Me Chicken Pasta, and Marry Me Chicken spaghetti squash next!
Table of Contents
- 🔍 Quick Look: Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Substitutions & Variations
- How To Make Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
- How Long to Cook Marry Me Chicken in the Slow Cooker
- Expert Tips
- Serving Suggestions
- Storage Instructions
- Crockpot Marry Me Chicken FAQs
- More Crockpot Chicken Recipes!
- Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Recipe
🔍 Quick Look: Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
- ⏱️ Cook Time: 5 hours
- 🕒 Total Time: 5 hours, 15 minutes
- 🍽 Calories: ~186 kcal per serving
- 👥 Servings: 4 servings
- 🥣 Key Ingredients: Chicken, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, cottage cheese
- 📖 Dietary Information: High-protein, gluten-free
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy, it comes together effortlessly in the Crockpot.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Flavorful: It’s a rich and flavorful dish that’s incredibly easy to make!
- Healthy: This dish is delicious and creamy while being lightened up!
- Creamy: The creamy sauce pairs beautifully with the tender chicken.
- Effortless: It’s everything you love about Marry Me Chicken, made effortlessly in the Crockpot. For a quicker stovetop option, check out my one-skillet lightened-up Marry Me Chicken.
“This was fantastic. I prepped for lunch and served over cauliflower rice and green beans. So flavorful. I didn’t change a thing and I believe the searing kept the chicken moist and tender.”
– cathy
Key Ingredients
- Chicken: Use four boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe.
- Garlic: Crush two garlic cloves and sauté the garlic with the shallot.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Use sun-dried tomatoes, not in oil. Make sure to roughly chop them. They will soften in the slow cooker.
- Chicken Broth: Use low-sodium chicken broth. The chicken broth helps keep the chicken moist and tender as it slowly cooks in the Crockpot. Also, chicken broth helps maintain the richness of the sauce without adding extra fat.
- Parmesan: Grated Parmesan cheese adds complexity to the sauce and contributes to its creamy texture.
- Cottage Cheese: Mix the whipped cottage cheese into the sauce once it is done cooking to prevent it from separating. We used fat-free cottage cheese, but low-fat or full-fat cottage cheese also works.
Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Make it Spicy: Adjust the heat by adding more chili crunch oil or crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
- Shallot and Garlic Substitution: If you don’t have garlic cloves or a shallot, use 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
- No Searing Option: If you prefer a simpler method, you can skip the searing step. In this case, place all the ingredients directly into the slow cooker and mix well.
- How To Make Italian Seasoning: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, use 1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1/8 teaspoon of dried basil, and 1/8 teaspoon of dried thyme.
- Light Cream Cheese Option: For an extra creamy texture, substitute the blended cottage cheese with light cream cheese. Add 4 ounces of softened light cream cheese to the recipe instead of the cottage cheese. The cream cheese will blend seamlessly into the sauce, providing a rich and velvety texture while still keeping the dish lighter than the traditional version with heavy cream.
How To Make Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Add the olive oil to a pan over medium heat on the stove. Then, add the chopped shallot and crushed garlic to the pan. Sauté the shallot and garlic for about 2 minutes. After that, move the shallot and garlic to one side of the pan.
- Sear the seasoned chicken breasts in the pan for about 2-3 minutes on each side. While searing, sprinkle the onion powder and Italian seasoning over the chicken.
- Place the seared chicken in the slow cooker. Then, add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, low-sodium chicken broth, and optional chili crunch oil or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker. Then, cook everything on low until the chicken is fully cooked.
- About 30 minutes before serving, prepare a cornstarch slurry by mixing the cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker to thicken the sauce.
- When ready to serve, turn off the slow cooker and remove the chicken. Once the heat has reduced, stir in the Parmesan and cottage cheese, mixing well until smooth.
- Coat the chicken in the sauce and pour the remaining sauce over the chicken. Serve this Marry Me Chicken garnished with fresh chopped basil and optional extra chopped sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese.
How Long to Cook Marry Me Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Cook Marry Me Chicken in the slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked and has reached an internal temperature of 165°F. It is best to cook the chicken on the low setting rather than the high setting to prevent it from drying out.
Expert Tips
- Sear the Chicken: We recommend searing the chicken in the pan you cook the shallot and garlic in. Season the chicken and then sear it for a couple of minutes per side before adding it to the Crockpot. This step adds extra depth of flavor to the dish.
- Cook on Low: To avoid drying out the chicken and for the best flavor, cook it on low in the Crockpot.
- Blend the Cottage Cheese: Blending the cottage cheese is essential for a smooth and creamy sauce. You won’t even taste it, but it makes the sauce luscious and creamy without heavy cream!
- When to Add the Cottage Cheese: Once your sauce has thickened, stir in the blended cottage cheese just before serving. It’s important to turn off the slow cooker first to lower the heat, as this helps prevent the cottage cheese from separating. The residual warmth will be enough to blend the cottage cheese smoothly into the sauce, maintaining its creamy consistency without curdling.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many ways to serve this Marry Me Chicken with its delicious sauce! Here are some ways you can serve this dish.
- With Pasta: Toss the creamy sauce with your favorite cooked pasta, protein pasta, or low-carb pasta. Then, slice the chicken and serve it over top for a comforting meal.
- Zucchini Noodles or Spaghetti Squash: For a low-carb option, try serving the chicken and sauce over zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash. For a quick way to cook spaghetti squash, try our air fryer spaghetti squash!
- Rice: Serve the chicken and sauce over a bed of white rice, brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice to soak up all the flavor.
- Mashed Potatoes: Serve over homemade cauliflower mashed potatoes, cottage cheese mashed potatoes, or slow cooker mashed potatoes.
- Greens: Serve the chicken over a bed of sautéed spinach. Or, serve it with a side salad or roasted vegetables such as air fryer frozen broccoli, asparagus, or air fryer green beans.
- Bread: Serve with warm, crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Storage Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat the sauce over low heat to prevent the cottage cheese from separating. I don’t recommend freezing this dish as the texture of the sauce will change once frozen.
Crockpot Marry Me Chicken FAQs
What Is Marry Me Chicken?
Marry Me Chicken is a viral TikTok recipe said to be so delicious it could inspire a marriage proposal. Traditionally, it features chicken breasts simmered in a rich, creamy sauce made with butter, heavy cream, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan. I’ve lightened up this classic by making it effortless in the Crockpot and skipping the butter and heavy cream. Instead, I use blended cottage cheese to create a smooth, creamy, and rich sauce.
Is Marry Me Chicken Healthy?
My version of the classic Marry Me Chicken dish is a healthier option! There is no heavy cream or butter in this recipe, and only one teaspoon of oil. I used cottage cheese to create a creamy texture without added fat, making it healthier while still delicious. Also, the chicken and cottage cheese make this dish protein-packed.
More Crockpot Chicken Recipes!
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Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
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Slow Cooker
Chicken and Gravy in the Crockpot
Slow Cooker
Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken
If you try this recipe please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you.
Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, not in oil
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon chili crunch oil or a pinch of red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup blended cottage cheese, fat-free, low-fat, or full-fat
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Add the olive oil to a pan over medium heat on the stove. Then, add the chopped shallot and crushed garlic to the pan. Sauté the shallot and garlic for about 2 minutes. From there, move the shallot and garlic to one side of the pan.
- Sear the seasoned chicken breasts in the pan for about 2-3 minutes on each side. While searing, sprinkle the onion powder and Italian seasoning over the chicken.
- Place the seared chicken in the slow cooker. Then, add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, low-sodium chicken broth, and optional chili crunch oil or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook everything on low for 4-6 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- About 30 minutes before serving, prepare a cornstarch slurry by mixing the cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker to thicken the sauce. Let everything cook on low for 30 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- When ready to serve, turn off the slow cooker and remove the chicken. Before adding the grated Parmesan and blended cottage cheese, it’s important to stop the cooking process to lower the overall heat. This helps ensure that the sauce isn’t too hot, which could cause the cottage cheese to separate. Once the heat has reduced, stir in the Parmesan and cottage cheese, mixing well until smooth. Then, coat the chicken in the sauce and pour the remaining sauce over the chicken.
- Serve this Marry Me Chicken garnished with fresh chopped basil and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Cook on Low: To avoid drying out the chicken and for the best flavor, cook it on low in the Crockpot.
- Blend the Cottage Cheese: Blending the cottage cheese is key for a smooth and creamy sauce.
- Thicken the Sauce: Add the cornstarch slurry about 30 minutes before the dish is done and let it thicken on low while stirring occasionally.
- Italian Seasoning: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, use 1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1/8 teaspoon of dried basil, and 1/8 teaspoon of dried thyme.
- Light Cream Cheese Option: For an extra creamy texture, substitute the blended cottage cheese with light cream cheese. Add 4 ounces of softened light cream cheese to the recipe instead of the cottage cheese.
- Storage: Store leftovers of the chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Nevermind my last post. My goodness. Why in the world I couldn’t see the ingredients list when I was looking for it yesterday, I’ll never know. I see it now. Goollly. Old age, that’s what I’m gonna chalk it up to.
Hi Diana, I’m so happy you were able to find the ingredient amounts! I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Hi. Do you have specific amounts for each ingredient? For example, how much cottage cheese and parmesan to make the sauce? How much Chicken broth? Or, is this all just ‘to taste’. I’m detailed, so, just wondering.
Hi Diana, no problem. Yes, we have specific amounts for each ingredient for all of our recipes. The recipe card toward the bottom of the post lists the specific amounts for each ingredient. I hope this helps!
This was delicious! I will definitely be making it again. Healthy and a lot of Yum!
Hi Jen, this makes me so happy to hear! I’m so glad you enjoyed the Crockpot Marry Me Chicken, thank you so much for leaving a review!
Hi, how many servings is this please? For the 186cal?
Hi! The estimated 186 calories are for one serving of the recipe, which is 1/4 of the full Crockpot Marry Me Chicken. That includes one chicken breast along with the creamy sauce. The full recipe makes 4 servings. I hope this helps!
Amazing! That’s what I was hoping! Thank you for your reply! Can’t wait to try!
I hope you enjoy the Crockpot Marry Me Chicken! Let us know how it goes!
This was delicious. My husband is not a white meat chicken fan, but really enjoyed this.
Hi Carol, I’m so glad you both enjoyed this Crockpot Marry Me Chicken! That makes me especially happy to hear since your husband isn’t usually a fan of white meat chicken. Thank you so much for leaving a review!
Any tips for doing this recipe in an instant pot instead of a crockpot?
Hi Madison, yes! You can make this in the Instant Pot. Just brown the chicken on sauté, add the broth and seasonings, then cook on high pressure for 8-10 minutes depending on the thickness of the chicken. Do a quick release, thicken the sauce with cornstarch, and stir in the Parmesan and blended cottage cheese at the end. Let us know if you give it a try.
This recipe is easy and delicious!
Hi Kim, I’m so happy you enjoyed the Crockpot Marry Me Chicken! Thank you so much for leaving a review!
This was actually pretty darn delicious. We put it over protein noodles and added some green beans- what a yummy mix! I wasn’t sure how the blended cottage cheese would be but it wasn’t that weird of a texture or anything. The whole dish had great flavor.
Hello, I’m so glad to hear the Crockpot Marry Me Chicken turned out delicious! The protein noodles and green beans sound like great additions. Thank you so much for sharing how it came together for you and leaving a review. 🙂
You’re going to love this Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken! The chicken is tender and juicy, simmering in a rich, creamy sauce with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs. It’s easy, flavorful, and perfect for busy weeknights or cozy dinners
This was fantastic. I prepped for lunch and served over cauliflower rice and green beans. So flavorful. I didn’t change a thing and I believe the searing kept the chicken moist and tender
Hi Cathy, we are so happy to hear you enjoyed the slow cooker Marry Me Chicken! It sounds like you had a delicious meal with the addition of cauliflower rice and green beans. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
Made last night and loved!! Great amount of protein to make my macros for the day!!
We are so happy you enjoyed the Marry Me Chicken! Thanks for letting us know! We love how easy it is to make in the Crockpot.
I made this yesterday and it’s delicious 😋. Hubby likes it so it’s a definite keeper.🤗😋
We are so happy to hear that you both enjoyed the Marry Me Chicken recipe! Thank you so much for letting us know!
Are you using fat-free cottage cheese or some other version?
Hi Amy, thanks for reaching out. We used fat-free cottage cheese, but you can use any version. Fat-free, low-fat, or full-fat will all work in this recipe.
This was amazing! I put it over zoodles and edamame pasta. I wouldn’t change a thing, it was perfect! ❤️
Hi Sarah, I’m so happy to hear that! Zoodles and edamame pasta sound like the perfect pairing for this Crockpot Marry Me Chicken. I love how you made it your own. Thanks you so much for sharing!