Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan

If you love chicken parmesan but don’t love all the work that goes into making it, Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan is for you! It’s easy to throw together and results in a delicious, hearty meal.

This slow cooker chicken parmesan recipe is a family favorite! You can prep it and set it and forget about it while you get everything else ready for your next meal.

It is the ultimate crockpot meal! You’ll love how easy it is to throw together, and you’ll love how delicious it tastes!

I’m all about the super easy when it comes to making dinner. But with really watching carbs to balance things like insulin resistance – we have been more mindful of what we are making.

So high protein meals are where it’s at for us at the moment. We made this – let the kids have the pasta to go with it, while we paired our delicious cheesy chicken with a salad.

I have to say – this is AMAZING and you just can’t beat how simple it is to make.

Easy Chicken Parmesan

Here are some commonly asked questions

What will I need to complete this recipe?

For this recipe, we will be using mushrooms, onion, olive oil, chicken breasts, pasta sauce, dried basil, dried oregano, bay leaves, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and fresh basil to garnish.  You’ll also need cooked spaghetti for serving.

We will be using a 6 or 7-quart slow cooker or larger and a large 12” skillet.

How to store leftover chicken parmesan

Once the dish has cooled completely you can store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Can you freeze this dish?

Yes, this dish freezes well.  Freeze in a resealable bag, or freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.  Prepare the spaghetti noodles at the time of eating though.

What size slow cooker should I use?

This will depend on the size of the chicken breasts you buy.  The ones in the images here are good size (big) chicken breasts and that is a 6-quart slow cooker.  I wouldn’t go any smaller than the 6-quart unless you are cutting this recipe in half.

Ingredients for Chicken Parmesan

• sliced mushrooms
• onion – sliced
• olive oil
• chicken breasts
• salt and pepper to taste
• pasta sauce
• dried basil
• dried oregano
• bay leaves
• mozzarella cheese – shredded
• parmesan cheese – shredded
• fresh basil for garnish
• cooked spaghetti for serving

Any pasta sauce will do?

Yes, pick your favorite.  I happen to like sauces that contain less sugar but, this should be your choice of favorite pasta sauce in order to make this dish work for you best.

How to Make Chicken Parmesan in the Crockpot

1. Spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray or cooking oil.
2. Add the sliced onions and mushrooms to the bottom of the pot.
3. Drizzle the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
4. Add the chicken breasts to the skillet, and season with salt and pepper.
5. After about 3 minutes on each side (when browned all sides), add the chicken breasts to the slow cooker, on top of the mushrooms.
6. Pour the pasta sauce all over the chicken breasts, evenly.
7. Add the bay leaves and sprinkle with basil and oregano.
8. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
9. After cooking time is over, sprinkle the cheese evenly on top of the chicken breasts and allow it to sit in the slow cooker for 10 minutes, without the lid, to melt the cheese.
10. Serve on a bed of spaghetti, garnished with fresh basil.

What’s the difference between chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana?

Nothing, it’s the exact same dish, just pronounced differently.

Is chicken parmesan unhealthy?

This depends on what type of diet you are on. It should be avoided if you are on a low-calorie diet.  It is very high in calories. However- this would be a completely acceptable dish if you were on a diabetic diet, low carb, or have metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance – PROVIDING YOU DON’T SERVE THIS OVER PASTA.

You can make this and enjoy just the chicken and mushrooms without the spaghetti. Be sure to check your pasta sauce for added sugar. There are some brands that offer ones without sugar being in the top three ingredients on the list.

What should be served with Chicken Parmesan?

Usually, the #1 choice here is spaghetti.  Then you can also serve with veggie noodles, Caesar salad, cauliflower salad, broccoli salad…. Even mashed potatoes taste great with this dish.

Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?

There is some debate about making frozen chicken in a slow cooker. While I know many people that do just toss the frozen chicken in there – the issue is that because it is frozen the chicken spends too much time either not being cold enough or hot enough to prevent bacteria growth when it is cooking from a frozen state.

It just takes too long for it to completely thaw and then reach proper temperature – which can lead to unsafe consumption. 

Can I substitute the mozzarella cheese for another type of cheese?

Sure! If you’re not a fan of mozzarella, you could try using cheddar cheese or even Swiss cheese.

Best Chicken Parmesan Recipe

I don’t have any Parmesan cheese on hand. Can I omit it from the recipe?

The Parmesan cheese is really what gives this dish its flavor, so we wouldn’t recommend leaving it out. However, if you’re in a pinch, you could try using Romano cheese instead.

What to serve with chicken parmesan

While this chicken recipe is the main dish, there are a couple of recipes we like to serve alongside this delicious dinner.

• Crusty Artisan Bread
• Garlic parmesan Pull-Apart Biscuits
• 30-Minute Garlic Parmesan Dinner Rolls
• Homemade French Bread
• Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks

What slow cooker do you use?

We actually have several slow cookers that we have acquired over the years from doing this job. I have a smaller one that is great for half recipes.

But the one I use the most is this standard, no-frills slow cooker that is perfect for this particular recipe.

Recipe Variations

Adapt this recipe – you can change up the type of cheese, mix in some ground sausage to the sauce before adding it to the cooker, or even add veggies to make it completely different.

If you love this easy chicken parmesan recipe, you’re going to love these other dinners too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

Other Chicken Recipes

Creamy Garlic Chicken

Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Spinach Stuffed Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Parmesan Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Soup

Parmesan Ranch Pasta Salad

Chicken Parmesan

Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken

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