With simple ingredients and minimal prep time, this Crockpot Chicken Parmesan is one you’ll want to add to your regular recipe rotation. It’s everything you love about classic chicken parmesan but with that cozy crockpot feel.
Easy Italian Comfort Food, Crockpot Parmesan Chicken
I love making this easy slow cooker recipe when my family comes into town or for prepping ahead for the week! With 15 minutes of prep, simple ingredients, and a crockpot, you can whip up this easy Italian dish while the slow cooker does all the work! The best part is that this main dish is a winner among adults and kids.
If you love set-it-and-forget slow cooker recipes, then you’ll love Rich and Creamy Cajun Smothered Chicken Recipe with Gravy and Easy Chicken and French Onion Soup Casserole.
✝️ Biblical Reflections Table Talk:
Italian Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan is a dish that requires patience, allowing the ingredients to slowly meld together to create a rich and flavorful meal. This slow cooking process mirrors the way God often works in our lives—sometimes slowly, but always purposefully. James 5:7 encourages us, “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.” Just as this meal rewards our patience with delicious flavors, our patience in faith is rewarded with God’s perfect timing and blessings. As you serve this dish, consider how you can embrace patience in your own life, trusting that God’s timing is always best.
Here’s Your Grocery List for Slow Cooker Chicken Parm
You only need a few basic ingredients to make restaurant-quality Italian food at home!
- Chicken breasts: I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. If they’re thick, you can slice them in half. You could also use chicken tenders if you like, so you don’t have to cut anything!
- Breading: I use Italian seasoned Panko bread crumbs for this recipe. You can also use plain Panko bread crumbs and add a little Italian seasoning.
- Batter: The egg and milk batter helps the bread crumbs stick to the chicken. Use 2% or whole milk.
- Seasonings: I keep this recipe simple with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Olive oil: This is used to sear the chicken and create that perfect golden brown crust.
- Marinara sauce: Use your favorite marinara sauce. You’ll need one 24-ounce jar.
- Cheese: I used a blend of shredded mozzarella cheese and shredded Parmesan cheese to sprinkle over the dish at the end of cooking.
- Pasta: Use your favorite type of pasta. You can stick with regular spaghetti noodles or use penne pasta, ziti noodles, or whatever else you like.
📝 Note: You can find the full recipe with ingredients and measurements in the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Chicken Parmesan in the Crockpot
Follow these step-by-step instructions to make delicious Crockpot Chicken Parmesan!
Prep the Chicken
- Prep the chicken by slicing the breasts in half. You want them to be the same size for even cooking.
Set Up Your Breading Stations
- Set up your breading stations with shallow bowls for each station (1 for the milk and eggs and 1 for the bread crumbs).
Sear the Chicken
- Sear the chicken. We’re not aiming for fully cooked. We just want a nice crispy crust before adding it to the slow cooker. Only flip once so the bread crumbs don’t fall off.
Pour the Marinara
- Pour the marinara sauce into the slow cooker.
Add the Chicken
- Add the chicken right on top of the marinara.
Cover and Cook
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours. You’ll know it’s done when your chicken registers 165ºF with a meat thermometer.
Add the Cheese
- 15 minutes before serving, add the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.
Let the Cheese Melt
- Place the lid back on and let the cheese melt.
Gina’s Tips For Recipe Sucess
- If you want to ramp up the flavor, I suggest using fresh herbs like fresh basil and parsley sprinkled as a garnish on top of your dish.
- You’ll need at least a 6-quart crockpot for this recipe.
- For the meltiest cheese, you can grate your own instead of using pre-shredded.
- Want to lighten things up? Skip the breading; just coat the chicken with seasoning and pop it into the slow cooker. You can also save calories by using low-fat shredded mozzarella.
Make It A Meal
Plate up your chicken parmesan and serve it alongside some Italian Cheesy Bread, Panzanella Bread Salad, or Crock Pot Asparagus! Hungry for dessert? Try my Strawberry Angel Food Cake for a fruity end to this rich meal.
Can I cook the chicken parmesan HIGH?
I highly recommend cooking on LOW as it keeps the chicken nice and moist. Cooking on high can lead to dry chicken and less infusion of the flavors.
Do I have to brown the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker?
Technically, no, but it does create a lovely crust and seals in the juices as the chicken cooks. However, if you want to save time, you can simply coat the chicken in the egg mixture, bread it, and place it in the slow cooker.
Storing Leftovers
According to the USDA, cooked chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consumed within 4 days.
If you plan on freezing leftovers, I recommend not adding the cheese until ready to serve, as dairy doesn’t freeze well.
To reheat, place your leftover chicken parmesan on a baking sheet or dish in the oven at 350ºF. Cover the sheet or dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is at 165ºF. You can remove the foil during that last few minutes to get that crust nice and crispy.
I don’t recommend reheating with the microwave as you won’t get that same crispness as with the oven.
More Similar Recipes
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Easy Italian Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan
Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.
Ingredients
- 3-4 chicken breasts, skinless chicken breasts (cut in half if they are thick)
- 1 ½ cups Italian seasoned Panko bread crumbs
- 1 egg, large
- ½ cup milk
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 24 ounce marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 4 servings pasta, your favorite type
Instructions
- Spray a 5-6 quart oval slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Chicken: If your chicken breasts are thick, carefully slice them in half lengthwise to create thinner pieces. This helps ensure even cooking. Aim for all pieces to be about the same size.3-4 chicken breasts
- Set Up Breading Station: Set out two shallow dishes or pie pans. In one dish, whisk together the egg and milk, then season the mixture with salt and pepper. In the other dish, mix the Panko bread crumbs with garlic powder and Italian seasoning.1 ½ cups Italian seasoned Panko bread crumbs, 1 egg, ½ cup milk, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Heat the Oil: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Tip: Let the pan get very hot before adding the chicken—this helps achieve a good sear on the chicken.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Bread the Chicken: Dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated on both sides. Then, roll the chicken in the seasoned bread crumbs, pressing gently to help the crumbs adhere.
- Sear the Chicken: Add the breaded chicken to the hot skillet. Tip: You don’t need to cook the chicken all the way through—just sear it to get the breadcrumbs crispy and lock in the juices. Cook each side until golden brown, flipping only once to prevent the breading from falling off. If needed, add more oil to the pan.
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Pour the marinara sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker. Once the chicken is browned on both sides, place the pieces on top of the sauce in the slow cooker.24 ounce marinara sauce
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Add Cheese: About 15 minutes before serving, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the chicken. Cover and continue cooking until the cheese has melted.1 cup mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- Serve: Serve the chicken over your favorite cooked pasta or polenta, spooning extra sauce over the top.4 servings pasta
