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An easy, hands-off dinner everyone will love! This comforting chicken Parmesan is slow-cooked in a flavorful Italian tomato sauce with garlic and fresh basil. Just before serving, sprinkle on mozzarella and let it get perfectly melty. Top everything with buttery Parmesan bread crumbs and serve the chicken, sauce, and cheese over bowls of spaghetti. So simple, so easy, and so delish — the perfect wholesome meal to come home to after a busy day.
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When it comes to making chicken Parmesan at home, I tend to avoid it. Honestly, I probably make a classic chicken Parmesan two, maybe three times a year. I don’t love that you have to bread the chicken and then pan-fry it in hot oil — it’s just a little too time-consuming and messy for a typical weeknight. I think a lot of us feel the same way! You really have to be in the mood (and have the energy) to make it.
That being said, my brothers love chicken Parmesan. So I wanted to create an easier, cozier version — and of course, I turned to the crockpot. I’m all about hands-off cooking right now: less prep, less work, and totally effortless but still incredibly delicious. It’s not always easy to achieve, but this slow-cooked chicken Parmesan is so, so good. I added a few special touches that make it extra flavorful and truly delicious.
Full disclosure — this isn’t your traditional chicken Parmesan, but the flavors are just the same. It’s lighter, simpler, and even more comforting. We love that, of course!
You just can’t beat a cozy crockpot dinner this time of year — it’s the ultimate comfort food made easy.
These are the details
Ingredients – for the Crockpot
- chicken breasts
- canned crushed tomatoes – love Italian style
- tomato paste
- shallots
- Italian seasoning
- fresh basil – feel free to use dried basil if necessary!
- chili flakes
- parmesan rind – if you have one lying around, use it!
- fresh grated parmesan
- whole milk mozzarella or provolone cheese – I mix them
For Topping
- salted butter
- panko breadcrumbs
- garlic
- parmesan
For Serving
- fresh parsley or basil – or use both
- cooked spaghetti – or your favorite pasta!
The Tools
For this recipe, you’ll need a crockpot, a small skillet, and a nice big pot for boiling spaghetti at the end.
The Steps
Step 1: Prep the Chicken
Arrange the chicken in the bowl of your crockpot. Add the canned tomatoes, tomato paste, shallots, Italian seasoning, basil, and season with chili flakes, salt, and pepper.
Pour in a splash of water — or for even more flavor, use broth, red wine, or white wine. (I usually just use water.) Give everything a quick mix to combine.
Step 2: Slow Cook the Chicken
Cover and cook on low for a few hours, or on high for a couple of hours if you’re short on time.
About 20 minutes before dinner, remove the lid and shred the chicken — it should fall apart easily. Add the cheeses and let them melt right over the chicken and sauce.
Step 3: Make the Parmesan Crumbs
While the cheese melts, take a few minutes to make the crumbs — it’s so worth it!
In a small skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the panko breadcrumbs and garlic, toasting until the butter turns golden and the crumbs are fragrant. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and remove from the heat.
Step 4: To Serve
Boil the spaghetti, then toss it with butter and fresh basil. Spoon the chicken, sauce, and melted cheese over each bowl of pasta. Top with the crispy Parmesan breadcrumbs and plenty of fresh parsley (and extra basil if you’d like!).
Recommendations
Serve this cozy crockpot chicken parmesan with homemade garlic bread — trust me, it’s worth it and so yummy with the chicken Parmesan! Add a simple fall salad on the side for a dinner that’s effortless, comforting, and completely delicious.
Looking for other slow cooked fall recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Red Wine Cranberry Braised Short Ribs
Slow Cooker Red Wine Braised Short Rib Pasta
Slow Cooker Coq au Vin with Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Cider Braised Short Ribs with Caramelized Onions
Lastly, if you make this Crockpot Chicken Parmesan, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love hearing from you guys and always do my best to respond to every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Crockpot Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 1/4 cup Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
- chili flakes
- sea salt and black pepper
- 1-2 Parmesan rinds
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella or provolone
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- fresh parsley or basil, chopped
- 1 pound (16 ounces) hot cooked spaghetti, for serving
Instructions
- 1. In the bowl of your crockpot, add the chicken, tomatoes, tomato paste, shallots, Italian seasoning, basil, and season with chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Add 1/2 cup of water. Stir it. Drop in 1-2 Parmesan rinds. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2 hours.2. Crank the heat on the slow cooker to high. Remove the lid, stir, and shred the chicken. Stir in the 1/2 cup parmesan, then top with mozzarella/provolone. Cook for 20 minutes on HIGH, until the cheese is melted.3. Meanwhile, add the butter to a skillet with the Panko and garlic. Cook over medium heat until the butter browns and the panko is toasted. Remove and mix in 1/2 cup Parmesan. Season with salt. 4. Serve the sauce, chicken, and cheese over bowls of cooked spaghetti. Top with Parmesan crumbs and fresh basil. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
This recipe was a huge hit for my family and that doesn’t happen often with picky children! I did end up putting extra grated Parmesan in the sauce because I didn’t have a Parmesan rind, but still turned out fabulous! I will try the rind next time. I wouldn’t skip the breadcrumb topping either. Gave it an extra little crunch!
Hey Samantha,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your thoughts, I’m so happy it worked for you! Have the best week!
Unfortunately, didn’t work for us. Chicken was tough and sauce was really watery. Thankfully, McDonalds is just up the road.
I’m open to suggestions for what might’ve gone wrong! I’m planning to try a few more from this site, hopefully just a fluke!
Hi Erin,
Thanks for trying this recipe, very sorry to hear you had some issues. Was there anything you may have adjusted in the dish? Did you cook on low or high and for how long?
No you’ve gotta listen to me. This is one of the best recipes to ever grace our taste buds. This is like the seventh time I’ve made it for my family and I just realized I’ve never given this recipe its flowers in a review. Usually I have to adjust at least SOMETHING to taste in a recipe, but this was perfect. It tastes just like a chicken parm but it’s more hands-off. MAKE IT.
Hey Gen,
Perfect! Thanks so much for making this dish and taking the time to comment. So glad to hear it was a hit!
This is one of my favorite meals to make, and a big plus, the grandkids love it!! I make this on repeat. I use rotisserie chicken to make a quick meal. Love this recipe!!
Hey Elizabeth,
Awesome! Thanks a lot for making this recipe and your comment, love to hear it was enjoyed!
1/4 cup Italian seasoning has to be an error. This was immediately a red flag for me, but I couldn’t find any pushback online about this specific point, so I carried on.
Next, and I recognize that perhaps this is an issue with my crockpot, but 2 hours on high was not even close to cooked. Another hour was required.
Aside from the fundamental issues, this recipe was entirely too much. Breadcrumbs disappeared into the mess of the rest of the dish (and yes, I sprinkled over top as suggested). Flavors didn’t match, and almost tasted like chemicals with the onslaught of italian seasoning. Ball of cheese on top.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for trying this dish and sharing your feedback. Sorry to hear it was not enjoyed!
I made this last night, and my husband and I both loved it! This was my first time to make chicken parm in a crockpot, but it will definitely not be my last time. Delicious!
Hey Kim,
Your feedback means a lot, thanks for trying the recipe. Happy it delivered!
This recipe was a big hit for my family this week! As a busy mom of two and another on the way, my slow cooker is a lifesaver in this season. Love recipes that are compatible with a more hands-off approach!
Hey Celeste,
Amazing! Love to hear this recipe was a hit, I appreciate you making it and your comment!
This was fantastic!! Another winner, winner chicken dinner! Loved it!!
Hey Elizabeth,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your thoughts—so happy it worked for you!
The flavor is awesome, but the extra water may not be needed — YMMV but mine was too watery with the additional water. I also opted not to shred the chicken; i split the breasts in half in the crockpot before topping with cheese and served them whole. Since theyre so tender, no fork needed!
Thanks so much, Sammie! Love to hear this dish turned out well for you and thanks for sharing your notes!
Have a great Sunday!
This has great flavor and was enjoyed by the whole family! The basil and parm rinds added great flavor to the sauce. I used two heaping tablespoons of Italian seasoning for 2 cans of crushed tomatoes and thought it was delicious. I used 3 lbs of chicken. Next time I will top individual plates with mozzarella and then top with the panko mix. Adding the cheese to the slow cooker made it hard to plate.
Hey Sarah,
Thrilled to hear this recipe turned out nicely for you, thanks for making it and your comment!
Have a nice Sunday!
Sports mamas rejoice!
This recipe is what you’ve been looking for! It’s easy but it’s different from all the other crockpot recipes in your arsenal. It comes together quickly and can easily be prepped the night before. Thank you so much for this recipe, you definitely knocked it out of the park with this one.
Hey Leigh,
Thanks for trying this recipe and for the feedback, I can’t wait to hear what you make next!
Enjoy your Tuesday!
This is wonderful. I did cheat and used jar sauce and pre chopped chicken breast for the slow cooker part. I also made the Parmesan topping with cheese on top in my air fryer. Yummy!
Hey Leslie,
Awesome! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was enjoyed!
Have a great Sunday!
Can this be doubled or tripled?
Hey Hunter,
Sure, just as long as your pot is large enough to handle all of the ingredients.
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Amazing!!! The bread crumb topping is next level!!
Hey Erica,
Big thanks for making this recipe and sharing back. So glad it hit the spot!
Enjoy your Wednesday!
DELICIOUS. A huge hit with the household!
Hey Geneva,
Perfect! So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for making it!