Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan (+Video)
Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan is easily made with tender, crunchy, seasoned chicken breasts topped with marinara sauce and melted cheese!
THE BEST CROCK POT CHICKEN PARMESAN RECIPE!
I am so excited to share this recipe for Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan. I’ve been working my slow cooker on overtime lately. I really do use them a lot especially when everyone is back-to-school and our daily routines are jam packed. This particular one is a huge family favorite. It makes your house smell SO good while it’s cooking!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
This will be enough to make 4 chicken breasts. As you can see below, I could only fit 3 in mine because my chicken breasts were huge. If yours are smaller, you should be able to fit four in a 6-quart oval slow cooker.
Yes, instead of the basil and oregano, you could substitute with one teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Don’t forget the garlic powder though!
For some recipes you can. However, for this recipe, it needs to be fresh chicken breasts.
Chicken Parmesan is traditionally served over spaghetti. I can also served with a side salad and some garlic bread.
I think it just depends on how much sauce you like on your chicken parmesan and pasta. Some people like hardly any and some like a lot. The sauce in the bottom of the crock pot should be enough to cover small portions of pasta. But if you like additional sauce over your chicken parmesan as well as the pasta it is served with (like I do), then I would recommend an additional jar of sauce. You can heat it up in a sauce pan over low heat.
They are the same thing! Parmigiana is just the Italian word for Parmesan.
Leftovers should be store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. I would store the sauce separately from the chicken so the chicken doesn’t get too soggy. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- marinara sauce
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Italian seasoned Panko bread crumbs
- egg
- milk
- garlic powder
- dried oregano
- dried basil
- shredded mozzarella cheese
- shredded Parmesan cheese
- spaghetti, (for serving)
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT CHICKEN PARMESAN:
Spray an oval 5-6 quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray (or use a slow cooker liner). Pour in jar of marinara sauce.
Get out two shallow bowls. In one bowl, whisk together egg and milk. Season with salt and pepper. I use about a teaspoon each.
In a second bowl, mix together panko bread crumbs with garlic powder, oregano and basil.
Get your assembly line all set up to make this go quicker. In a large skillet, begin heating up the vegetable oil (over medium-high heat). You want to get your skillet hot before adding chicken to it.
Dip each chicken breast into the milk mixture.
Then roll it around in the seasoned bread crumbs. Do each breast one at a time.
Then add chicken to hot skillet. Continue with the rest of the chicken. You aren’t cooking them. All you want is to create a nice golden brown crust on both sides of the chicken breasts. If necessary, add a bit more oil to the pan.
NOTE: the key to keeping the breading on is to not constantly flip them. Let it get good and brown on one side. This helps the breading to stick before flipping to the other side. Pushing them around and flipping too much will cause the breading to come loose.
After browning both sides, add chicken to the crock pot on top of the sauce.
Cover and cook on low for about 5-6 hours. Note: About 30 minutes before this is ready, you’ll want to start cooking your spaghetti noodles, if using. About 10-15 minutes before serving, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Cover again and allow cheese to melt.
Serve over cooked spaghetti with a crisp, green salad and some garlic bread.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!
Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan (+Video)
Ingredients
- 25 ounce jar marinara sauce
- 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (depending on how many will fit in your slow cooker)
- 1 ½ cups Italian seasoned Panko bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk
- salt and pepper (to taste) (about a teaspoon each)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (more if you prefer)
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 package spaghetti, for serving
Instructions
- Spray an oval 5-6 quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Pour in jar of marinara sauce.
- Get out two shallow bowls. In one bowl, whisk together egg and milk. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a second bowl, mix together panko bread crumbs with garlic powder, oregano and basil.
- In a large skillet, begin heating up the vegetable oil. You want to get your skillet very hot before adding chicken to it. Dip each chicken breast into the milk mixture.
- Then roll it around in the seasoned bread crumbs. Coat each breast one at a time.
- Then add chicken to hot skillet. Continue with the rest of the chicken. You aren't cooking them all the way through – just getting a good browning on each side. If necessary, add more oil to the pan. NOTE: the key to keeping the breading on is to not constantly flip them. Let it get good and brown on one side. This helps the breading to stick before flipping to the other side. Pushing them around and flipping too much will cause the breading to come loose.
- After browning both sides, add chicken to the crock pot on top of the sauce. Cover and cook on low for about 5-6 hours. Internal chicken temperature will be 165F degrees when finished.
- About 10-15 minutes before serving, sprinkle each piece of chicken with shredded mozzarella cheese and shredded Parmesan cheese.
- Cover again and allow cheese to melt. Serve over cooked spaghetti noodles.
Video
Notes
- About 30 minutes before this is ready, you’ll want to start cooking the spaghetti noodles, if using.
- Serve over cooked spaghetti with a crisp, green salad and some garlic bread.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: January 2013
Updated and republished: August 2022
Just a note about the breading. Once I browned the chicken most of the panko bread crumbs slid off the breasts into the pan. I salvaged most of it, but I think regular Italian bread crumbs would work better. I am sure it will be tasty either way!
Delicious recipe!! 2 questions – do you recommend another jar of marinara sauce to pour over the pasta?
Also, why do the instructions say 8 hrs cooking time?
Whipped this up tonight and like Diane, didn’t think about it before it was too late to put it in the crockpot, so ended up baking it and serving it over fresh/refrigerated angel hair. My husband tried the sauce and angel hair, said, “That’s good,” and two bites later, got the chicken and said, “Wow, that’s *really* good!”
There you have it. Family endorsed, hub approved. 🙂 Thanks as always!
As long as it tasted good to you – that’s all that matters to me! Thank you Elizabeth!
Could this be cooked on high for 3-4 hours instead?
Chicken was so moist and full of flavor loved it!
This was excellent. My slow cooker cooks chicken breasts in 4 hours, so I changed that. I also used parm instead of mozzarella. Thanks for posting this recipe.
Hi Kristine! Yay! Thanks so much for coming back to comment! I really appreciate it and I’m so thrilled you enjoyed this one!
This was really delicious!! Will definitely keep recipe and have shared it with my daughters!!
Turned out amazing. Love this recipe will definitely be making it again in the near future
This crockpot recipe was amazing! I was worried about over cooking the chicken or no parmesan. It turned out perfect. I followed the recipe to a tee. I cooked everything about 7 hours on low. The only change I made was I put the chicken on the pasta ( I used linguine because it’s what I had ), I added the sauce on top, and then added the mozerrela cheese. The entire house loved it. This is definitely a go to recipe for the family Now!
I hate cooking, but it is something I now have to do. Trying this tomorrow, fingers crossed. Thank you so much for all the crockpot recipes.
This recipe is delicious. I followed it to the tee, didn’t change nothing. Turned out perfect. Will make it again.
Thanks so much for letting me know! And I appreciate you trying the recipe as written!!
Has anyone let this cook in the cooker on low for recommended time and then had the slow cooker switch over to warm? Due to my work schedule this would probably be in the crock pot for 10 hours before I got home. My crockpot is digital and can switch to warm after it has cooked for the set time. Just curious if anyone has had luck with this! The recipe looks delicious!
So glad it was a winner for you. This one is definitely easy. Thanks for letting me know how it turned out for you.
Made this tonight, just loved it! The breading didn't stay as crispy as I'd hoped, but it was still a great dish. This is definitely a new go-to dish, super easy prep with simple ingredients we always seem to have around & everyone loved it! Thank you for sharing!!
Hey there Tammy- you are only browning these before adding them to the crock pot. Not cooking them all the way. They will continue to cook in the crock pot. Hope this helps.
So I just want to make sure I understand this correctly…..you just brown the chicken and don't cook it all the way thru. Is that correct?
Thanks so much. Tammy
tammy.anderson@comcast.net
Oh boy! This was amazing and we love chicken Parmesan! Thanks again, Brandie for another great recipe!
Can this recipe be doubled in the crockpot?
Have this in the crockpot now and cannot wait to eat it. Smells delicious. Will update after eating it.
I do not like crispy parmesan chicken, can I skip the browning/crust part and just put breaded frozen chicken breast in?
I saw in the comments someone was doing it that way but tyhey never said how it turned out
Thank you for all the sweet comments everyone! I'm so happy you enjoy this one as much as I do. As for baking in the oven, you can absolutely do it with this recipe. Preheat oven to 400f degrees. Follow this recipe with the breading and pan frying. Then stick it in a glass baking dish that has the sauce in it. Bake for about 15 minutes. Then take out, add cheese on top and bake for a few more minutes until cheese is melted. 🙂
Hello,
I was wondering if it is possible to cook this in the oven the same way?
I want to cook it for tonight, but I don't have enough time for the crock pot. So I want to try it in the oven, where it doesn't have to cook as long.
Thanks
Hi Brandi! So funny, my husband and I had chicken parm for dinner last night and I'm having the left-overs for lunch today. We love it and have a favorite restaurant (Clemmons Kitchen in Clemmons, NC) that we love to get it from.
Now, maybe I can make it just as good at home. Thanks!! Pinning it!
I had some chicken to use up tonight, and although I have made this recipe before, I didn't think about dinner early enough in the day to make this in the crock pot.
I followed the recipe, but used a 13×9 baking dish and just baked the chicken in a 350 degree oven for about half an hour.
Dinner was ready in no time, and the room was silent as my family DEVOURED this meal.
When he was done eating, my picky-eater son simply said "You need to make this more often!"
Thank you for the terrific recipe Brandi!
Brandy, this sounds delicious! Will add it to my list of things to try. Have made and served several of your cump cake recipes and are going to serve the pumpkie pie dump cake next Friday night for a neighbor's birthday party. Seven of us on our court celebrate birthdays by hosting dessert parties. It doesn't always fall on the birthday lady's real birthday; we try for that date but try to make it so all can attend. After all when you're Sr. Citizens age, who's fussing at whether it's on the actual birthday or not? We just enjoy the comaradie of good neighbors! The guest of honor will be either 89 or 90 but she's a young one!