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Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan

Published: Nov 30, 2023 · Updated: Mar 19, 2025 by Marye

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan recipe is a hassle-free, delicious meal. It's easy, cheesy, and perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Total time for the recipe to be finished.Total Time 5 hours hours 25 minutes minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Overhead view of slow cooked chicken breasts in marinara sauce with melted mozzarella on top.
Chicken Parmesan in the slow cooker with a title text overlay for Pinterest.

This easy recipe is great for busy weeknights!

Overhead view of chicken parmesan in a slow cooker.
Table of Contents
  • 🗝️ Key takeaways
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 📖 Variations
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥄 Equipment
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

🗝️ Key takeaways

  • Tender chicken breast in a sauce that's full of Italian flavor.
  • Since it's all done in the slow cooker you can have it any night of the week.
  • Slow cooking the chicken makes it so moist and falling-apart good.

This slow cooker version of a family favorite meal takes the hard work out of dinner time prep!

The tender chicken breast simmers away in a jar of spaghetti sauce under melty, gooey cheese—and leaves the house smelling better than an Italian restaurant.

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Labeled ingredients for this recipe.

📖 Variations

  • I prefer boneless, skinless chicken breasts for crockpot chicken parmesan, but you can swap those for juicy chicken thighs. Just make sure they're boneless and trimmed of extra fat.
  • If you don't have marinara sauce, add a tablespoon or so of dried Italian seasoning to flavor a store-bought jar of tomato sauce—or, make a blend of your own seasonings.
  • Alternatively, use leftover homemade sauce instead of jarred pasta sauce. Or, make it right in the crock pot with two to three cans of crushed tomatoes and one of tomato paste! Season to taste.
  • Spaghetti noodles are a chicken parmesan classic, but in this easy recipe, you can use whichever shape you prefer! Rigatoni, linguine, cavatappi, farfalle, and penne pasta are all good choices, too. Or, serve over cooked spaghetti squash if you're a fan!
  • Sprinkle each piece of chicken with a spoonful of toasted, crispy bread crumbs when plating to give the meal that traditional chicken parmesan crunch!
  • Garnish with parsley instead of fresh basil, and don't forget extra parmesan cheese!

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Step by step images showing how to make the chicken parmesan in the slow cooker.
  1. Add sauce to slow cooker.
  2. Season chicken breasts and lay on top of the sauce.
  3. Pour more sauce over the top and cook on low.
  4. Sprinkle with cheese and cook 20 more minutes.

🥄 Equipment

You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

  • Crockpot or slow cooker with a lid
  • Large pot
  • Grater

🥫 Storage

You can keep leftover crock pot chicken parmesan in the fridge for four to five days. Put it in an airtight container or in a dish covered with plastic wrap.

To reheat and enjoy your leftovers, warm them in the microwave, stirring once or twice until heated through.

A serving of chicken parmesan being removed from the slow cooker.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: Grate a ball of fresh whole milk mozzarella cheese for the most authentic flavor. Plus, the cheese melts better when it's freshly grated. You can pop the cheese in the freezer for a few minutes to help it grate more easily.

  • Salt your pasta water well! The noodles absorb the salty water and, thus, the flavor. Just a teaspoon of salt usually isn't enough. For every pound of pasta, aim for one to two tablespoons of salt.
  • Al dente pasta still has a bit of a bite and feels just slightly firm when you taste it. Test your pasta two minutes before the cooking time has elapsed to make sure you don't accidentally overcook the noodles.
  • Avoid cross-contamination when handling raw chicken, and wash your hands immediately after touching it to prevent food-based illnesses.
  • Coat plastic Tupperware with some olive oil or cooking spray before storing leftovers in it to prevent the red sauce from staining the plastic.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

What is chicken parmesan?

Traditional chicken parmesan is an Italian dish. It's coated in crispy bread crumbs and baked or fried, then covered with sauce. A blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheese melts on top of the sauce.

How is this slow cooker chicken parmesan recipe different than a traditional one?

It's just as tasty but so-o-o much easier! I love slow cooker recipes because you don't have to stand over a hot stove or monitor the oven all day. Crockpot meals come together at lightning speed—just throw everything in and check back a few hours later for perfectly cooked, super-easy chicken!

Can you put uncooked, dry pasta in the crockpot?

In certain recipes, you can like my crockpot mac and cheese. However, depending on the other ingredients, sometimes it's best to cook the pasta separately. For this slow cooker chicken parmesan recipe, since the chicken and sauce contain a lot of moisture, be sure to add cooked noodles just before serving, rather than earlier on.

Can I freeze leftovers?

You can, but sometimes it gets a little dry after thawing. If you'd still like to freeze your leftover chicken parmesan and pasta, let it cool, then transfer it to freezer-safe storage containers or bags. It'll keep for up to three months. For better results, let it thaw in the refrigerator before microwaving to warm.

Chicken parmesan on a plate with pasta and salad.

📚 Related recipes

  • Baked Eggplant Parmesan is another homestyle classic, and perfect for those looking for a slightly lighter, but just as satisfying, Italian dish.
  • Talk about a cozy meal, Cheesy Chicken Crock Pot Spaghetti screams comfort food and freezes well so you can always have it on hand!
  • Baked crisp on the outside, while moist and tender inside—just don't forget the lemon butter drizzle in this Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken.
  • Overhead view of finished crockpot chicken bog in the crockpot.
    Crockpot Chicken Bog
  • Serving collard greens from the slow cooker.
    Slow Cooker Collard Greens with Bacon
  • Closeup of finished pork chops.
    Crock Pot Honey Garlic Pork Chops
  • Closeup of chicken and rice for feature image.
    Crockpot Smothered Chicken

🍽️ Serve with...

Overhead view of a bowl of green beans, tomatoes, potatoes, and red onions created for the feature image of this post.

Italian Green Bean Salad is tangy and crunchy.

Closeup of the garlic rolls next to marinara sauce.

Garlic knot rolls are easy to make at home.

A closeup of a square of cake.

Holy Cow" Chocolate and Butterfinger Candy Cake is rich and chocolatey.

📞 The last word

I love crockpot recipes! They make a delicious dinner possible any night of the week.

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If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Overhead view of slow cooked chicken breasts in marinara sauce with melted mozzarella on top.

Crockpot Chicken Parmesan

4.81 from 26 votes
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Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan recipe is a hassle-free, delicious meal. It's easy, cheesy, and perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Course Slow Cooker
Cuisine American - Vintage
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 hours hours 25 minutes minutes
Servings:8
Calories:528
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper
  • 50 ounces marinara sauce, 2 jars - use your favorite
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more/less to taste
  • 1 pound pasta, use your favorite
  • 8 ounces Mozzarella, shredded
  • 4 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 2 tablespoons basil leaves, fresh

Instructions

  • Season chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Spray a slow cooker with no-stick cooking spray.
  • Spoon about 1 cup of the pasta sauce in a thin layer in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Add the chicken in a single layer.
  • Cover with the remaining sauce and sprinkle with the red pepper flakes.
  • Cover and cook on low heat for 5 hours.
  • Top with cheeses.
  • Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes, or until the cheeses have melted.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to the instructions on the package.
  • Drain well.
  • Serve the chicken over the pasta or shred the chicken and stir the pasta right in to the chicken and sauce.
  • Top with fresh basil before serving.

Notes

storage:
You can keep leftover crock pot chicken parmesan in the fridge for four to five days. Put it in an airtight container or in a dish covered with plastic wrap.
It freezes well, too.
To reheat and enjoy your leftovers, warm them in the microwave, stirring once or twice until heated through.
tips:
    • Salt your pasta water well! The noodles absorb the salty water and, thus, the flavor. Just a teaspoon of salt usually isn't enough. For every pound of pasta, aim for one to two tablespoons of salt.
    • Al dente pasta still has a bit of a bite and feels just slightly firm when you taste it. Test your pasta two minutes before the cooking time has elapsed to make sure you don't accidentally overcook the noodles.
    • Avoid cross-contamination when handling raw chicken, and wash your hands immediately after touching it to prevent food-based illnesses.
    • Coat plastic Tupperware with some olive oil or cooking spray before storing leftovers in it to prevent the red sauce from staining the plastic.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 528kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 1405mg | Potassium: 1126mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1216IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 313mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes

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    Crockpot Angel Chicken
  • Closeup of the chicken broccoli casserole in the slow cooker.
    Crock Pot Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
  • Creamy chicken tetrazzini in a slow cooker.
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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

Comments

    4.81 from 26 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




  1. Claire De Lun says

    December 05, 2023 at 2:01 pm

    Iwould love to pair this up with some sesame toasted baguettes and a clear soup.

    Reply
  2. Pam says

    December 03, 2023 at 12:23 pm

    Of course serving a great big tossed salad with all the veggies you can put into it!
    Homemade red wine/vinegar dressing
    A generous slice of garlic/parmesan bread. Or your 30min dinner rolls right from the oven! Which by the way are great!
    Dessert would be a slice of homemade apple pie, or chocolate cake.

    I'm hungry!!!!!

    Reply
  3. Maria Yates says

    December 03, 2023 at 7:31 am

    5 stars
    Homemade Crusty Italian Bread would be perfect with this delicoius Chicken recipe

    Reply
  4. Jenine says

    December 02, 2023 at 11:13 am

    5 stars
    I would serve this with a crusty loaf of bread, spinach and mushroom salad, sangria, and fruit tart to end this easy anytime meal.

    Reply
  5. Patti Couey says

    December 02, 2023 at 7:29 am

    I would serve a Caesar salad, homemade cheese straws, and shortbread cookies and coffee for dessert.

    Reply
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Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

Welcome to my kitchen! ☕

NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

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