creamy slow cooker garlic parmesan chicken

Creamy Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken

The Culinary Science of Slow-Cooked Dairy

1. Preventing Curdling: Adding heavy cream, cream cheese, or grated parmesan directly at the beginning of a 6-hour cook can cause the dairy fats to separate and curdle due to prolonged, high heat.
2. The Smart Finish: Cooking the chicken first in the savory broth keeps it tender and moist, while whisking in the cheese and cream during the last 30 minutes creates a smooth, glossy, emulsified sauce that coats every bite.

Ingredients

• The Chicken & Base:
  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or chicken thighs)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (or butter)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 5 to 6 cloves garlic, minced (or pressed)
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• The Velvety Cream Sauce (Added at the end):
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (freshly grated melts much smoother than pre-bagged!)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Layer the Slow Cooker

1. Place the diced onion and minced garlic at the bottom of your slow cooker.
2. Arrange the chicken breasts in an even layer right over the aromatics. Season them lightly with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
3. Pour the chicken broth around the edges of the chicken.

2. Slow Cook

1. Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours (or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours), until the chicken is fork-tender and easily shreds or pulls apart.

3. Create the Creamy Parmesan Sauce

1. During the last 30 minutes of cooking, remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and place them on a cutting board (you can leave them whole or shred them into bite-sized pieces, depending on your preference).
2. Directly into the hot broth remaining in the slow cooker, whisk in the cubed cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese until mostly combined.
3. Put the lid back on and let it heat on HIGH for 15 to 20 minutes, then whisk vigorously until the sauce is completely smooth, rich, and velvety.

4. Combine and Serve

1. Return the chicken to the slow cooker, tossing it thoroughly so every piece is coated in the luxurious garlic parmesan sauce.
2. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and extra grated parmesan. Serve hot!

Pro-Tips for Success

• Serving Suggestions: This rich sauce begs to be soaked up! Serve it over a bed of fettuccine noodles, white jasmine rice, or alongside a batch of warm, crusty bread or crispy smashed potatoes.
• Grate Your Own Parmesan: Pre-shredded cheese from a bag is coated in anti-caking starches that can make your sauce grainy. Taking 2 minutes to grate a block of fresh Parmesan guarantees a silky-smooth sauce!