Description
Rich marry me chicken creates a creamy, irresistible dinner sensation from Italian-inspired ingredients. Slow cookers simplify this romantic meal that promises to enchant dinner companions with minimal preparation effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless) or 6 chicken thighs
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- 1 tsp dried basil (or 1 tbsp fresh)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (chopped, drained if packed in oil)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsps water (for thickening, optional)
- ¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Meticulously dry the poultry and coat with a vibrant blend of seasonings, ensuring a flavor-packed exterior that promises culinary excellence.
- Searing Technique: Heat olive oil in a skillet and create a golden-brown crust on the chicken, sealing in moisture and developing a rich caramelized foundation.
- Slow Cooker Assembly: Layer the seared chicken in the crock pot with minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and red pepper flakes, establishing a complex flavor profile that will intensify during cooking.
- Liquid Infusion: Generously pour chicken broth around the meat, providing essential moisture and tenderizing the protein throughout the cooking process.
- Flavor Development: Allow the slow cooker to transform the chicken on low heat, gradually breaking down the meat until it reaches a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness while developing deep, rich flavors.
- Sauce Enrichment: Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, creating a velvety sauce that envelops the chicken with luxurious, creamy complexity and introduces herbaceous notes from fresh basil and oregano.
- Sauce Refinement: If desired, prepare a cornstarch slurry to adjust the sauce’s consistency, simmering until it reaches the perfect thickness and glossy texture.
- Serving Presentation: Plate the chicken over your preferred base – pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice – ensuring each portion is lavishly topped with the sumptuous sauce and garnished with additional fresh basil and Parmesan for a final burst of flavor and visual appeal.
Notes
- Manage Moisture Levels: Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning to prevent excess water, ensuring a perfect golden sear and preventing soggy texture.
- Optimize Searing Technique: Use high heat and avoid overcrowding the skillet to achieve a deep caramelized crust that locks in flavor and creates a rich exterior.
- Control Cream Integration: Add heavy cream during the last 30 minutes of cooking to prevent curdling and maintain a smooth, luxurious sauce consistency.
- Customize Spice Profile: Adjust red pepper flakes based on personal heat tolerance, allowing flexibility for mild or spicier versions without compromising the dish’s core flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours (low) or 2-3 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg