Super flavorful Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan with a thick, not watery, tomato sauce and a crunchy Panko crumb topping. So easy!
I am now convinced anything can be cooked and cooked well in a crock pot. Chicken Parmesan was one recipe I was sure could not be pulled off well in a slow cooker. I mean, how can you get that crispy, breaded coating?
But this recipe from Cook’s Country, my go to source for classic recipes, solves that problem by adding a crispy Panko crumb topping after the chicken is cooked. Genius!
Now granted, it’s not quite the same as eating a perfectly fried piece of chicken like this one. But it is the next best thing.
There is a small amount of precooking for this recipe- sauteing the onions and garlic mainly. All in all this is a totally easy and hands off recipe for chicken parmesan.
An easy sauce is made from the sautéed onion and garlic plus a whole can of tomato paste, seasonings, and diced tomatoes.
Thick Tomato Sauce
To keep the sauce from getting watery, as sauces tend to get in the crock pot, you start with an extra thick sauce and add some cornstarch. The result is a super flavorful and tomatoey Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan with just the right amount of cheese and a crunchy Panko crumb topping.
Chicken Parmesan was never so easy!
How Long To Cook Chicken Breasts in Slow Cooker
Chicken breasts typically take 3 to 4 hours to cook on LOW in a slow cooker but cooking times vary between different brands and models of slow cookers. Newer slow cookers run hotter than older ones. I don’t recommend cooking chicken breasts in HIGH in a slow cooker. It is too easy to overcook them which will make them dry and chewy.
Make It Spicy
Double or triple the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to make this recipe spicy.
How To Serve Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan
I love to serve this recipe with some spaghetti tossed with a little butter or olive oil and Parmesan cheese. For a side I like a garden salad with Creamy Italian Dressing or Lemon Butter Broccoli.
★★★★★
What readers are saying
Made this tonight for dinner. I got the Peyton Manning “chicken parm you taste so good” from the whole crew. Success and a much healthier version I might add. Thank you so much for the recipe!
More Slow Cooker Italian Recipes
- Slow Cooker Sausage Lasagna
- Slow Cooker Spicy Meatballs and Marinara
- Williams Sonoma Slow Cooker Lasagna
- Crock Pot Baked Ziti
- Slow Cooker Spaghetti Casserole
Follow my Crock Pot Pinterest Board and never run out of ideas for things to make in your slow cooker.
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Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil,, divided
- 1 medium onion,, diced
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 4 cloves garlic,, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes,, I like to use fire-roasted, drained
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1/2 cup Panko crumbs
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, tomato paste, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon salt. and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook until onions are softened and tomato paste is rust in color, about 4 minutes.
- Transfer onion-tomato paste mixture to a lightly greased crock pot (or use a crock pot liner) and stir in drained diced tomatoes.
- Dissolve the cornstarch in the 1 tablespoon of water and stir into the tomato sauce.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper and lay them on top of tomato mixture so that they are shingled and the tapered ends face the side of the crock pot with the control panel. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours.
- Mix together mozzarella and half of the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle cheese mixture over chicken, place the lid back on and let sit in turned-off crock pot for 15 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Combine Panko crumbs and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Cook until nicely browned, stirring frequently. Transfer Panko crumbs to a bowl to cool and then add in remaining Parmesan cheese, the basil, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Sprinkle on top of cheese and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe adapted from Cook’s Country
Originally posted March 26, 2015.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Wow, never thought to do chicken parm in the crockpot. I will have to try this! I love using my crockpot!
Wow! I have never tried (or thought) to do chicken parm in the crockpot. I will have to try this! Love using my crocrockpot!
I would have never thought chicken parm would work in a crockpot! I love this! I’m always looking for new recipes to make in mine!
I love that you made this in the slow cooker. It looks perfect and I bet it smells fantastic. I’d love to come home to that smell.
Note to self: Get crockpot out of hiding and USE! This looks so good. 🙂
This crock pot version of chicken parmesan looks better than any other version I’ve seen — I love this and need to make it soon! Pinned. 🙂
Looks so good! Love such chicken dishes!
Love this idea!! Chicken parm is one of my fave comforting meals, but it definitely takes a lot of work and makes a mess. This version is so easy! I’ll definitely have to try this! 🙂
This looks great! I love crockpot meals, they make my life so easy!
Okay, this I’ve never seen before! Such a great idea! Love the topping added afterwards!