Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan is an easy way to make this classic Italian dinner at home. The slow cooker does all the work, cooking breaded chicken in marinara sauce until it’s tender and then topping it with melted mozzarella cheese.
It’s a simple family dinner that’s ready when you are.
This Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan has become one of our favorite easy dinners. I love that I can prep it quickly, let the slow cooker do the work, and still serve a comforting meal the whole family enjoys.
If your family loves easy Italian recipes like Chicken Parmesan but you don’t always have time to bread and fry chicken, this slow cooker version is the perfect solution.
If you love this slow cooker recipes, you may also love Easy Crockpot Italian Chicken Dinner, Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken, Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe, Crock Pot Crack Chicken or check out more Easy Italian Crockpot Recipes.
Make sure to also try Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff or Parmesan Crusted Chicken.
Why This Recipe Works
- Easy slow cooker dinner – Let the crockpot cook the chicken while you handle the rest of your day.
- Classic Italian flavor – Breaded chicken, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella make this a family favorite.
- Great for busy weeknights – Prep takes just a few minutes before the slow cooker takes over.
- Comfort food made simple – Enjoy homemade Chicken Parmesan without frying the chicken.
Ingredients
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts – Boneless skinless chicken breasts work best for this recipe. Try to choose pieces that are similar in size so they cook evenly.
- Marinara Sauce – Use your favorite store-bought marinara or make our Easy Marinara Sauce for extra flavor.
- Italian Seasoned Panko Bread Crumbs & Grated Parmesan Cheese – These create the flavorful coating that gives the chicken its traditional Chicken Parmesan taste.
- Garlic Powder, Salt, Black Pepper – Simple spices that adds so much flavor
- Large Egg & Whole Milk – Helps to all the chicken to have a breaded texture
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – Freshly shredded mozzarella melts better and creates that classic Chicken Parmesan texture.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
Step 1 – In a shallow bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, garlic powder, parmesan, salt and pepper.
Step 2 – In a separate shallow bowl, whisk together the milk and egg.
Step 3 – Dip each of the chicken breasts in the egg mixture and then coat the chicken breasts with the bread crumb mixture. Making sure that the entire chicken breast is coated with the bread crumb mixture. Continue this process until all the chicken breasts are coated.
Step 4 – Spread some marinara sauce into the bottom of the crock pot making sure to cover the bottom of the crock pot. Place the chicken in the slow cooker on top of the sauce into a single layer.
Step 5 – Top with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Step 6 – Then top with the remaining marinara sauce.
Step 7 – Cover and begin slow cooking on low for 5-6 hours until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit).
Step 8 – Top the chicken with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Step 9 – Serve as is or over pasta with fresh basil and parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Chicken – When preparing this recipe, we like to make sure the chicken are about the same size and thickness. You may need to filet the chicken to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Coating Chicken – For the best flavor make sure your chicken is completely coated with the egg mixture and breadcrumbs. If using frozen chicken, make sure to thaw before coating.
- Adding cheese – We recommend adding the shredded cheese towards the end of cooking time. We like to shred the cheese as it melts better. Pre-shredded cheese has added ingredients.
Variations Ideas
- Chicken – Feel free to substitute the boneless skinless chicken breasts for chicken thighs or chicken tenders.
- Sauce – Substitute the marinara sauce for tomato sauce or Homemade Pizza Sauce.
- Seasoning – Italian Seasoning is a great option to substitute the other spices.
Serving Ideas
Add in your favorite pasta and dinner is ready. We normally serve this chicken parm over spaghetti noodles. However, sometimes we switch it up and use penne pasta or ziti pasta just for a change.
Slow cooker chicken parmesan recipe is also really good with Air Fryer Garlic Bread Recipe, Easy Stuffed Cheesy Bread Recipe or Garlic Bread Cheese Sticks Recipe and a green salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend cooking chicken on low when making this recipe. It keeps the chicken moist and tender.
There is no need to brown the chicken before cooking in the slow cooker. Just simply bread the chicken with the egg mixture and breadcrumbs and place in the crockpot.
Store leftover chicken parmesan crock pot recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat the leftovers in the microwave or oven depending on how much you have. If reheating in the oven, place in a baking dish to reheat in a preheated oven at 350 degrees.
Yes! This recipe freezes well. Allow chicken to cool completely and store in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months and when ready to reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm in the oven or microwave.
Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- 4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 1 jar Marinara Sauce (approximately 25 ounces)
- 1 cup Italian Seasoned Panko Bread Crumbs
- ⅓ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, stir together 1 cup of bread crumbs, ⅓ cup of parmesan, 1 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tsp of salt and 1 tsp pepper.
- In a separate shallow bowl, whisk together 1 cup of milk and 1 egg.
- Dip each of the 4 chicken breasts in the egg mixture and then coat the chicken breasts with the bread crumb mixture. Making sure that the entire chicken breast is coated with the bread crumb mixture. Continue this process until all the chicken breasts are coated.
- Spread some marinara sauce into the bottom of the crock pot making sure to cover the bottom of the crock pot.
- Place the chicken breasts in the crock pot on top of the sauce into a single layer.
- Top with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Then top with the remaining marinara sauce.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Top the chicken with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Serve as is or over pasta and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
More Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipes
We love to hear from you. If you make this Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan Recipe, then leave us a comment or a star review.
This looked so good I bought the few remaining ingredients I didn’t have on hand and made it the next day. It didn’t turn out like the photo. The homemade marinara wasn’t good and I bought a good brand can of crushed tomatoes. I think the sauce made the difference, so I plan on trying this again but with a better sauce.
Lorraine – I hope you find a brand of marinara sauce you love! Let us know how it turns out.
Can I use crokpot liners?
Yes, you can.
If I do not use breadcrumbs for this slow cooker parmesan chicken recipe would it make a big difference?
Wendy – Yes, You can make this recipe without breading the chicken first but I do find that the breading gives this recipe that traditional chicken parmesan flavor. If you try it out without the breading, please let me know how it turns out!
Question it doesn’t say in the recipe card when to put in the grated Parmesan cheese. do you put it in with the coating mixture to cover the chicken?.
so sorry for the confusion. I have updated the recipe card. You mix the parmesan cheese with the bread crumbs.
Love this recipe!
This was good. I added a big can of tomatoes so it was a little runny. Added some tomato paste and am simmering the sauce to heat with leftovers. Chicken was really moist. My husband hates it when it’s dry. Might add sauteed onions in the beginning and a little more spice. My husband can’t have salt so I go little heavier with seasonings. But it truly was a good meal with little effort.
I love watching you videos. I was wondering if there was a way to get ingredient sizes for 4 serving instead of six. I am retired and there is just 2 of us. I don’t want a lot of leftovers. Thank you. Wish you had been around when I was younger and feeding a family.
I’m not sure how to do that for just 4. I would go ahead and cook half and then freeze the leftovers for another quick dinner in a few weeks.
Does it have to be filleted chicken or can it just be frozen boneless chicken breasts?
No it doesn’t have to be. That is just personal preference for me.
This was fantastic, I’ll be making it often