Crockpot Marry Me Chicken

This Crockpot Marry Me Chicken offers a healthier take on the classic, maintaining all the flavor while being lighter. Instead of heavy cream, blended cottage cheese creates a creamy, rich sauce that’s lower in fat and higher in protein. With tender chicken and sun-dried tomatoes slow-cooked to perfection, this easy recipe is ideal for busy weeknights or meal prep.

🔍 Quick Overview: 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 – effortlessly prepared in the Crockpot.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Flavorful: This dish is packed with rich, delicious flavors, and it’s super easy to make!
Healthy: Indulge in a creamy dish without the guilt—it’s lightened up but still full of flavor.
Creamy: The creamy sauce complements the tender chicken perfectly for a satisfying bite.
Effortless: Enjoy all the goodness of Marry Me Chicken with none of the hassle, thanks to the Crockpot. Looking for a quicker version? Try my one-skillet lightened-up Marry Me Chicken!

Key Ingredients

Chicken: Use four boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe to keep it lean and tender.
Garlic: Crush two garlic cloves and sauté them with the shallot to bring out their full flavor.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Choose sun-dried tomatoes that are not packed in oil, and be sure to roughly chop them. They’ll soften beautifully in the slow cooker.
Chicken Broth: Opt for low-sodium chicken broth to keep the dish healthy. The broth ensures the chicken stays moist and tender while maintaining the richness of the sauce without adding extra fat.
Parmesan: Grated Parmesan cheese adds depth to the sauce and contributes to its creamy texture.
Cottage Cheese: Stir the whipped cottage cheese into the sauce once it’s finished cooking to ensure it stays smooth and doesn’t separate. You can use fat-free, low-fat, or full-fat cottage cheese, depending on your preference.

Substitutions & Variations

Make it Spicy: If you like a little heat, add more chili crunch oil or crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
Shallot and Garlic Substitution: Don’t have fresh garlic cloves or a shallot? Substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
No Searing Option: For a simpler approach, skip the searing step. Just place all the ingredients directly into the slow cooker, stir to combine, and cook.
How to Make Italian Seasoning: If you’re out of Italian seasoning, you can mix together 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/8 teaspoon dried basil, and 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme.
Light Cream Cheese Option: For an even creamier texture, swap the blended cottage cheese with light cream cheese. Add 4 ounces of softened light cream cheese to the recipe for a rich and velvety sauce that’s still lighter than using heavy cream.

How to Make Crockpot Marry Me Chicken

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 reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. For the best results, it’s recommended to use the low setting to prevent the chicken from drying out.

Expert Tips

• Sear the Chicken: For added flavor, we recommend searing the chicken in the same pan you use to cook the shallot and garlic. Season the chicken, then sear it for a couple of minutes on each side before adding it to the Crockpot. This step enhances the dish’s depth of flavor.
• Cook on Low: To keep the chicken juicy and flavorful, always cook on low in the Crockpot. This will help prevent the chicken from drying out.
• Blend the Cottage Cheese: Blending the cottage cheese is key to achieving a smooth, creamy sauce. While you won’t taste the cottage cheese directly, it makes the sauce luscious without the need for heavy cream!
• When to Add the Cottage Cheese: After the sauce has thickened, stir in the blended cottage cheese just before serving. Be sure to turn off the slow cooker to lower the heat, as this prevents the cottage cheese from separating. The residual heat will gently incorporate the cottage cheese, keeping the sauce smooth and creamy without curdling.

Serving Suggestions

There are countless ways to enjoy Marry Me Chicken with its creamy, flavorful sauce! Here are a few ideas:

• With Pasta: Toss the creamy sauce with your favorite cooked pasta, protein pasta, or low-carb pasta. Slice the chicken and serve it over the top for a comforting and satisfying meal.
• Zucchini Noodles or Spaghetti Squash: For a low-carb alternative, serve the chicken and sauce over zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash. If you’re short on time, try cooking spaghetti squash in the air fryer for a quick, easy option!
• Rice: Serve the chicken and sauce over a bed of white rice, brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice to soak up all that delicious flavor.
• Mashed Potatoes: Pair the chicken with mashed potatoes whether homemade cauliflower mashed potatoes, cottage cheese mashed potatoes, or slow cooker mashed potatoes.
• Greens: Serve the chicken over sautéed spinach or with a side of fresh salad. You can also serve it alongside roasted vegetables like air fryer frozen broccoli, asparagus, or air fryer green beans.
• Bread: Don’t forget to serve some warm, crusty bread to soak up every last drop of that amazing sauce!

Storage Instructions

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. When reheating, do so over low heat to avoid the cottage cheese from separating. I recommend not freezing this dish, as the texture of the sauce may change once thawed.

Crockpot Marry Me Chicken FAQs

1. Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Yes, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time slightly as chicken thighs may cook faster than chicken breasts.

2. Can I make this dish ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can marinate the chicken the night before and place it in the slow cooker the next day. The dish is also great for meal prep!

3. Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
To make this recipe dairy-free, try using a dairy-free cream alternative instead of cottage cheese and skip the Parmesan. Adjust the seasonings to taste.

4. Can I freeze leftovers?
While I wouldn’t recommend freezing this dish, if you do, be aware that the creamy sauce may change in texture once thawed and reheated. For best results, enjoy it fresh!

5. How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?
Use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure it is fully cooked and safe to eat.

6. Can I add more vegetables to this dish?
Yes! Feel free to add more vegetables like spinach, bell peppers, or zucchini. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Nutrition

• Calories: 186 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 9.3g
• Protein: 30.1g
• Fat: 3.5g
• Saturated Fat: 1.1g
• Cholesterol: 68mg
• Sodium: 543mg
• Fiber: 0.6g
• Sugar: 2g

Notes

• Cook on Low: For the best flavor and to keep the chicken from drying out, always cook on low in the Crockpot.
• Blend the Cottage Cheese: Blending the cottage cheese is essential for achieving a smooth and creamy sauce.
• Thicken the Sauce: Add the cornstarch slurry about 30 minutes before the dish is done and allow it to thicken on low, stirring occasionally.
• Italian Seasoning: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, substitute with 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/8 teaspoon dried basil, and 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme.
• Light Cream Cheese Option: For an even creamier texture, swap the blended cottage cheese for light cream cheese. Add 4 ounces of softened light cream cheese in place of the cottage cheese.
• Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• WW Points: 1 point per serving using fat-free cottage cheese.
  To see your WW Points in the WW app for this recipe, click here or manually add the ingredients to the recipe builder.

Crockpot Marry Me Chicken

Recipe by Abdullah

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

This Crockpot Marry Me Chicken is effortless to make! It’s a lighter version that still delivers that delicious, creamy goodness.

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 both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
• Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped shallot and crushed garlic, and sauté for about 2 minutes. Then, move the shallot and garlic to one side of the pan.
• Sear the seasoned chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes on each side. While searing, sprinkle onion powder and Italian seasoning over the chicken.
• Transfer the seared chicken to the slow cooker. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, low-sodium chicken broth, and optional chili crunch oil or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
• Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and is fully cooked.
• About 30 minutes before serving, make a cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water. Stir the slurry into the slow cooker to thicken the sauce. Let it cook on low for 30 minutes to reach your desired sauce consistency.
• When ready to serve, turn off the slow cooker and remove the chicken. Allow the heat to reduce before adding the grated Parmesan and blended cottage cheese to prevent the cheese from separating. Stir in the Parmesan and cottage cheese until smooth.
• Coat the chicken with the sauce, then pour the remaining sauce over the top.
• Serve the Marry Me Chicken garnished with fresh chopped basil and enjoy!