Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan – The perfect family dinner! This easy chicken Parmesan recipe uses your slow cooker to do all of the work!
Have you ever had one of those weeks? Friday cannot get here soon enough.
Last weekend, my family and I went away for a quick weekend getaway before starting school this week. We returned home to a leaky pipe and water all over one section of our basement floor, which we didn’t discover until after being home for a day. Thankfully, we were able to get a plumber over here pretty quickly and he determined it was the washer machine in our laundry room that had the leaky pipe.
I know now how to shut off the water in our house. Like, the main water line. The plumber showed this to me in case (worst case scenario) the pipes burst and water would be pouring out everywhere. Make sure you know how to do this, people.
We have a huge front loader washer machine and dryer. And the lovely people who lived in this house before we did thought it would be neat to build a custom shelving thing for the washer/dryer, complete with cabinets above them. It’s great but our washer/dryer barely fit inside and they are in there like stuck together tight. so, the plumber was throwing out suggestions to me on how he could get behind the washer to access the situation and leak.
Possible Solutions:
- Call Best Buy (where we purchased the washer and the Best Buy guys were the ones who delivered and installed them) and have them send out 2 guys to move it out. It’s huge by the way (one person can’t move it) and maybe the plumber didn’t want to be held liable if something happened? Like why would Best Buy do this? We’ve been living here for almost 2 years now.
- Go through the back wall, which meant cutting holes into the wall of my daughter’s bedroom. And not knowing exactly where the water line was, he might have to break through the wall in a few places.
- Hire 2 guys to pull and move the damn thing out.
Can you guess which one we ended up doing? #3. At one point though, they did think they were going to have to go through the back and break into the wall but thankfully, they found the problem once the washer machine had been moved. This process took a day and a half to figure out and like 10 minutes to move the thing. So, what was the problem? The washers on the hose to the hot water were just loose. I have no idea how this even happens. But whatever. There’s no more leak and we didn’t have to break into Phoebe’s bedroom wall.
And we have Chicken Parmesan for dinner!
THE EASIEST CHICKEN PARMESAN RECIPE
Three things I’m excited about: I started my Pure Barre classes yesterday. Fall is almost here! And this Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan!! It’s so delicious and is incredibly easy to make.
Like, for instance, my 8 year old could seriously make this dish.
The key here? Keeping dinner simple. This is a perfect dinner for a relaxing weekend, made with just a handful of wholesome ingredients and cooked mostly in your slow cooker.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE CHICKEN PARMESAN IN THE SLOW COOKER
- Nonstick cooking spray or butter to grease your crock
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper
- Jarred marinara sauce
- Garlic cloves – minced
- Dried oregano
- Crushed red pepper flakes – optional
- Panko or bread crumbs
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley
- Cooked spaghetti for serving
HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER CHICKEN PARMESAN
Your slow cooker seriously does all the work. After putting together all of the ingredients, the only “cooking” needed when you’re ready to serve is boiling the pasta!
Here’s my incredibly easy slow cooker chicken Parmesan recipe:
1. First prepare your slow cooker by using nonstick spray or butter to grease the crock. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, and place into the slow cooker in a single layer.
2. Next, in a large mixing bowl combine the marinara sauce, minced garlic, oregano, and red pepper chili flakes if you’re choosing to include them.
3. Pour the sauce over the chicken so that the breasts are completely covered. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours.
4. Once the chicken is cooked through, sprinkle the panko or breadcrumbs evenly over the chicken. Add the shredded mozzarella and most of the grated Parmesan cheese.
5. Cover the slow cooker, and let the cheeses melt for several minutes. Meanwhile, go ahead and make the spaghetti according to the package directions.
6. Lastly, garnish the chicken Parmesan with chopped parsley and the remainder of the Parmesan cheese.
Serve the chicken Parmesan over the freshly cooked pasta, and enjoy!
Because this recipe is so wonderfully easy and delicious, it is definitely on my family’s Top Dinners list. I love to put it all together on a Saturday or Sunday when we’re lounging around the house, or leave everything to cook while we go out to run errands or enjoy the weekend.
I hope you Pin this and give this recipe a try!
LOOKING FOR MORE DELICIOUSLY SIMPLE SLOW COOKER RECIPES?
- Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Mac and Cheese
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Spicy Asian Beef Short Ribs
- Pork Taquitos with Chocolate Mole
- BBQ Thai Chicken and Golden Rice
- Best Beef Stew
Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- butter or non-stick baking spray
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- salt and pepper
- 2 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce + more if needed
- 2 to 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 1/2 to 1 cup panko or bread crumbs toasted (optional)
- 1 to 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese + more when serving
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley finely diced
Instructions
- Spray or grease the inside of your slow cooker or crock pot. Season each chicken breast with salt and pepper on each side and place into the slow cooker in one layer.
- Using a large mixing bowl, pour in the marinara sauce, and add the minced garlic and dried oregano and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Mix together, taste and add salt and pepper if desired. Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts into the slow cooker. Make sure all of the chicken is covered with the sauce. Cover and cook on LOW for about 4 hours.
- After the chicken is cooked, sprinkle on the panko over each chicken breast. Alternatively, you can brown the panko or bread crumbs in a pan before sprinkling over the chicken. Add the shredded mozzarella cheese and parmesan over each chicken breast and cover the slow cooker and let cook until the cheese has melted. Garnish with the fresh parsley and parmesan cheese and serve over cooked spaghetti.
Notes
Give this recipe a try, and leave a comment to let me know what you think!
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Hope the whole plumbing issue is now fully sorted out! I wouldn´t know what to do if water came bursting out! It´s good to have a plan of action in case it does.
ps. Good you had time to prepare this slow cooker meal through all the chaos too 🙂
Oh no – I wouldn’t know what to do in that situation. I am terrible when anything goes wrong in the house.
But, I am super excited for slow cooker season. I would happily eat slow cooker meals every night if they were like this.
Basement water leaks are the worst, because you rarely find them before it’s been going on for a little while. And if there’s no drain down there, then just aaaaaaah. I’m glad those two guys could haul your machine away from the wall and find the leak!
How was Pure Barre? I want to know. Like, I actually wondered it on my own without reading your post, so you have to tell me what you thought!
Slow-cookers are where it’s at when the crazed school year starts again. Love how this came out. Looks fantastic!
Mir,
I loved the class! it’s super hard. I have no core strength so doing this to strengthen that and build some lean muscle! 🙂 if you have some classes close to you, you should definitely check it out!!! going again tomorrow!
Yay, I’m glad you liked it! It totally builds your core, and then less back pain, better posture, better bikini days…I love barre SO much.
Leaking pipes can be such a hassle and create so many more problems. Hope you’ve got your problems under control. Love this recipe. Chicken is always a hit at our house and the slow cooker is always on the counter.
Yikes! Been there done that thank god my husband is a master general contractor he’s saved us a lot of money over the years. Glad everything worked out in your favor. Now about this Pure Barre, I just googled it and wow! I love this concept I need this in my life after our week long vacation in Virginia. There’s a Pure Barre studio opening soon in our area-Thanks lady!!! Totally saving the best for last, can you believe it, it’s time to breakout the ole crock pot and for good reason. This chicken parmesan looks delicious! It’s quick and easy a must add into our weekly rotation.Thanks for sharing Alice! 🙂 Pinned!
Oh this slow cooker dish looks just perfect, Alice! I love chicken parmesan, but have never made it in the slow cooker before. Sounds delicious!
A similar thing happened to my family last month- we had 11 people staying in our normally-three-person house and of course the local water main pipe broke and water was everywhere on our street and our road was cut off. We shut off the water and my mom bought about 12 gallons of bottled water as soon as she could get out- except by the time she got back? The water was back on. So now we have an abundance of bottled water in our garage- oops! Sorry to hear about your water troubles :/
Oh man, Alice. Your story with the water totally resonates with me over here. We’ve been tracking a leak in our basement for months…months! We thought the basement itself was leaking, and we had 4 (4!) basement companies come give us quotes. Then I happened to stumble upon the leak dripping after I flushed the guest bathroom toilet. Guess what? I found the leak. We ended up hopping on Home Adviser and found a plumber. He fixed it this week…in like 2 hours tops. I wanted to hug him.
This chicken parm looks amazing! Perfect comfort food after long, stressful hunts for leaks. (I’m still laughing at the idea of Best Buy coming out to move the washer…really?!?)
Oh no! Leaky pipes are the worst! We had that happen to us in our previous house – glad you were able to find people to fix it. Yay for fall and simple dinners! Love this slow cooker chicken parmesan! It looks so comforting and delicious!
I’m so glad the plumbers got the problem fixed pretty quickly!! I’m always worried that when I go on a long trip, I would come home to find something happened in the house. But that’s great that you know where the main water line is! Also, I hope you’re enjoying your barre classes!
This chicken parm looks great, Alice! I just want to dig right in!
What a pain! We had a leaky pipe problem in our last house and it took awhile to find the source! Glad you were able to get it fixed without breaking any walls!
This chicken parm looks incredible. Love that you can make it in the slow cooker!
There’s nothing better than a good slow cooker meal! This is so perfect for those busy weeknights.
Ugh, sometimes being a homeowner stinks! At least it was an easy fix once access was granted 🙂 Love this easy peasy dinner for a busy day!
I’m so sorry to hear about your water line! I need to know how to turn off the main water line stat. Pure Barre classes are a great workout, too — you must love it! This is one incredible slow cooker meal that’s going on my meal plan!
Yup, that’s all I need right now. And topped with more mozzarella, please haha! Super hearty and delicious meal!
Oh. My. Goodness. Gracious. That water situation sounds like a nightmare. This chicken, on the other hand, sounds so much better. And if your 8 year old can make it? Maybe my husband can too! 🙂
haha, I love that you just compared your husband to an 8 year old! 😛
That is so frustrating!! I swear, water is my biggest fear. We had a leak a few years ago and it was a nightmare! I hope it’s all getting fixed! Love this dinner, easy is the best!
Gorgeous dish, I’ll definitely try it! Sorry to hear about your plumbing issue Alice! Hope everything is getting fixed. And leaks in the basement are the worst! I now know how to shut the water in our house, after we had the water heater leak a few months ago 🙁
Omg, the same thing happened to my parents a few years ago, except they had JUST put in brand new hardwood. Thankfully, their insurance covered it. But now they always turn the water off when they go out of town! Love this recipe – always looking for crock pot meals once soccer season kicks in. And that would be NOW!
Water problems are such so horrible – we had a pipe burst a few years ago and had to move out of our house for repairs. Love how easy this recipe is – perfect for the school year or anytime really 🙂
This seriously looks so so sensational!!
Oh my goodness. I’m so sorry!! Aargh. House stuff, especially when it involves water, (yikes!) is so frustrating, scary and spensive! Glad to hear it’s all good now.. 🙂 I think everyone needs a meal like this in their arsenal for emergencies just like yours! I’m already kind of experiencing what to fix for dinner fatigue and school started on Tuesday! This recipe will definitely be happening soon!
Oh man. I bought a house this year and there are SO many things that I have no clue how to do – like shutting off the water. Eeek! The learning curve is steep! Love love love this chicken parmesan. I’m pretty excited to get out my slow cooker this fall!
Gosh what a nightmare! I had no idea this was happening to you. Thank goodness you were able to get it fixed. And thank goodness you had an effortless, comforting meal to put on the table after all was said and done! This looks fantastic and perfect for busy weeknights 🙂
GAH! That sounds like a total nightmare, and I’m sorry that happened! But at least it’s all sorted out and you had this amazing chicken to drown your sorrows in! Love that you made this in the slow cooker! Pinned!
OH MY GAWWWD… what a NIGHTMARE! I am so glad you guys got it all fixed and didn’t have to break through your daughter’s bedroom wall! BUT, I’m sorry it was such a headache in the process! Water Leakage = P.I.T.A! Anyways, I’m happy you had this super simple and seriously delish slow cooker chicken parm to devour amidst the chaos! I love chicken parmesan (Who the heck doesn’t?), but made in the slow cooker? GENIUS! Love this, Alice! Pinned! Cheers to you, your family , a wonderful Holiday weekend AND NO water leaks!! 😉
This is totally happening here this fall. I heart my slow cooker! And ugh, what a pain about the pipe! We had a pipe leaking in our kitchen ceiling in our brand new (!!) house, and we had to tear open the ceiling, so I know what a pain it can be. Plumbing is not something that’s fun to mess around with!
I just ordered my First ever slow cooker and I am dying to see it!! I know it sounds crazy but I am all excited to try slow cooker recipes & make our dinners easier!! This chicken parmesan goes on my to make list girl!! Happy long weekend 🙂
That’s so great, Ami!!! you are going to love it! I would be excited too!! and you got it just in time for fall and winter!!!
Oh no! Alice, I feel for you – I haven’t had a leaky pipe in the basement, but I have had my basement flood after a rain storm and boy does that suck! In any event, I’m so glad that you were able to get it fixed and didn’t have to go through your daughters wall to get to it.
I love using the slower cooker – especially on chaotic days. Minimal prep resulting in amazing flavors! And my husband would be ALL OVER this dish – his favorite dish in the entire world is chicken parmesan.
Oh Alice I need to ask justin now to show me how to turn off the water. Im Glad you went with option #3. And this chicken…looks amazing! adding it to my list along with your slow cooker bbq pulled chicken.
Can I use regular spaghetti sauce?
Hi Janel, yes, you can.
Thank you going to try it looks yummy.
Oh no!! I’m so sorry about everything! Sounds like such a hassle… 🙁 but on the bright side you have this lovely recipe to enjoy! I’m gluten free dairy free, but you have inspired me to make a recipe just like this that I can enjoy!! SO delicious! Great recipe! Thanks so much for sharing!
Never a dull moment, is there! I can totally see why you needed this big plate of comfort!
What a brilliant way to use the slow cooker!
Oh chicken parm! You know I have never made this at home but I must try. Your recipe looks incredible! I know my husband would LOVE it.
This is the second recipe that I’ve opened of yours on.ALL FREE SLOW COOKER RECEIPES that are not readily available. Are you false advertising? If so, I’ll let them know because you are ruining their website
Hi Cheri, what are you referring to? I have never submitted my recipes to Free Slow Cooker recipes and I’m not sure what you are referring to. Do they have my recipes on there??? All of my recipes are here, posted on my blog. If my recipes are there, they do not have permission to publish them there.
I see what you are talking about. . I did not put my recipe there. . and when you click the link to head over to my website, the recipe is right here in full so I am not sure what you are referring to. Seems they have added my recipe there (and it’s mine) so legally, they have to have you click here to get the recipe. Sorry for any inconvenience but this is a great recipe and I hope you try it!
On the chicken, do you pull the chicken breasts apart a bit before serving, or leave the chicken breasts whole? I was just wondering if it would be easier to eat if the chicken breasts were pulled apart a bit. Also, could this be served over rice?
Marjorie, when I served, I did place an entire chicken breast on the top but simply cut it up as I ate. . you and can slice beforehand or do whatever you want. . for the photos, it’s obviously prettier to keep the breast in-tact, which is what I did here. Let me know if you try it!
I was just wondering, if the chicken can be pulled a bit, instead of leaving the chicken breasts whole. It might be a bit easier to eat. Also, could this be served over rice instead of speghetti?
I think that’s a great idea! If you try it, let me know. . I also love this with chicken thigh meat as well.
Can you cook it faster on high?
Hi Gini, You can try but I have found that the cooking results from slow cooking on low is better with this recipe.
Is four hours on low really enough for whole breasts? I want to fix this for guest tonight but I want to make sure it gets done so I was just checking. Love that it’s so easy.
Hi Nancy! Sorry I just saw this. . if they are thicker chicken breasts, just check them, you can remove one and check the inside. . and remember you’re going to add the shredded mozzarella cheese and parmesan over each chicken breast and cover the slow cooker and let cook MORE until the cheese has melted. I hope you enjoy!
What are the nutritient information on this? Ex. Sodium, potassium etc etc.
Hi Andrea! I do not have the nutrition information on this. I know there are widgets and sites online that calculate that stuff but I’m not a nutritionist. I’m sorry!
“What a great idea! I eat breakfast in my car most mornings, so this would be wonderful. I could even heat a couple up when I got to school and eat them while I prep for the day. Thanks for sharing.
Scout is adorable, by the way.”
Ragerds:Moses Brodin
Thank you for this great post. Your ketchup recipe is a staple in my kitchen! I just made another batch yesterday ?