Emilie Meyer
Chicken Parmesan is a classic Italian dish that can be made in a crock pot. It's a versatile, family-friendly meal that's perfect for busy weeknights. The crock pot method simplifies meal prep without sacrificing flavor, resulting in juicy chicken breasts smothered in a bold tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella. This recipe is a great option for those seeking a comforting, hands-off dinner with minimal cleanup. By preparing the chicken in a slow cooker, you can avoid standing over the stove and dodging oil splatters while still enjoying the classic Italian flavors of Chicken Parmesan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cookware | 5-6 quart slow cooker/crock pot |
| Chicken | Boneless, skinless chicken breasts |
| Chicken preparation | Dip chicken in egg, then coat with bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper |
| Cooking time | 4-6 hours on low, 2-3 hours on high |
| Temperature | 165°F |
| Cheese | Mozzarella, parmesan, Italian cheese blend |
| Sauce | Marinara sauce |
| Serving suggestion | Bed of pasta, salad, garlic bread |
| Storage | Refrigerate for up to 2 days, freeze for up to 3 months |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken preparation
Chicken Parmesan is a great dish to make in a crock pot, and it's an easy way to make a comforting family meal. It's a versatile recipe that can be adapted to your tastes and dietary requirements.
Firstly, you will need boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If the breasts are large, you may want to slice them into cutlets so they cook faster. It's important to use fresh chicken, and you should pat the meat dry before cooking to help the breading stick.
Next, prepare your breading. In one bowl, whisk an egg with a little milk. Season with salt and pepper. In a second bowl, mix together your breadcrumbs. You can use Italian breadcrumbs, or plain/panko breadcrumbs with your own choice of seasonings. For an authentic Chicken Parmesan, add garlic powder, oregano, and basil to the mix. You can also add grated Parmesan cheese to the breadcrumb mix for extra flavour.
Now you're ready to start breading the chicken. Dip each chicken breast into the egg mixture, ensuring it is fully coated. Then, roll the chicken in the seasoned breadcrumbs until it is evenly coated.
Get a large skillet very hot, adding vegetable oil if necessary. Add the chicken to the skillet and brown both sides. You aren't cooking the chicken through at this stage, just sealing in the juices and getting some colour.
Once the chicken is browned, it's ready to go into the crock pot. You can stack the chicken if your crock pot is large enough, or cook in batches if not.
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Crock pot setup
To make chicken parmesan in a crock pot, you'll need to prepare your crock pot by spraying it with non-stick cooking spray. You can also use a slow cooker liner. An oval 5-6 quart slow cooker is recommended.
Before you begin cooking the chicken, you'll need to prepare the chicken by coating it in a breading. To do this, you'll need to whisk an egg with a fork in a separate bowl until foamy. In another shallow bowl, mix breadcrumbs with Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. You can use Italian breadcrumbs or plain breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning. You can also add garlic powder, oregano, and basil to the breadcrumb mixture.
Next, dip the chicken into the egg, then into the breadcrumb mixture, coating both sides with the breading. You can also dip the chicken in milk before coating it in the breadcrumb mixture.
Once the chicken is coated, you can place it in the crock pot.
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Cooking the chicken
To cook chicken parmesan in a crock pot, you'll first need to prepare the chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the best cut of meat for this recipe. If your chicken breasts are particularly thick, you can slice them into cutlets to ensure they cook faster and more evenly. Be sure to pat them dry before cooking to help the breading stick to the surface.
You can then prepare the breading. In one bowl, whisk an egg with a fork until foamy. You can add a little water or milk to the egg to create an egg wash, which will help the breading adhere to the meat. In a separate bowl, mix breadcrumbs with Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you wish to add. You can use Italian breadcrumbs to add extra flavour, or plain or panko breadcrumbs with your own choice of seasonings.
Dip the chicken breasts in the egg, then coat them in the breadcrumb mixture. Be sure to coat both sides of the chicken. You can then add the chicken to a hot skillet to brown both sides, which will help the breading stick. After browning, add the chicken to the crock pot.
You can then add cheese and sauce to the crock pot. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the chicken, then spread pasta sauce or marinara sauce evenly over the chicken. You can also add the cheese after cooking the chicken and sauce, depending on your preference. Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 4-6 hours, until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.
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Preparing the pasta
To prepare the pasta, bring a large pot of water to a boil. You can add salt to taste. Once the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. If you like your pasta al dente, be sure to keep an eye on the timer. Drain the pasta and then pile the noodles on the plates. Top with Chicken Parmesan and enjoy!
If you want to cook your pasta in the crockpot, you can, but it's not recommended for this recipe as you'll need to add extra liquid for the noodles to absorb, which could cause the breading to slide off the chicken. However, if you do want to try cooking the pasta in the crockpot, you'll need to add a little extra cooking time and make sure that you have the right amount of liquid for the pasta to cook properly.
You can also freeze cooked spaghetti noodles or other pasta along with the chicken parmesan. Allow the pasta to cool completely, then seal it in a separate airtight container or freezer bag. It will keep for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge and then reheat in a pot of boiling water or in the microwave.
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Serving suggestions
Chicken Parmesan is traditionally served over spaghetti. You can also serve it with a side salad, roasted vegetables, or glazed carrots, and garlic bread.
If you want to bulk up the meal, you can add more pasta shapes, such as angel hair, or crusty rolls for sandwiches.
For a lighter option, you can skip the pasta and serve the chicken with a side salad and garlic bread.
You can also freeze any leftovers. Allow the chicken and pasta to cool completely, then seal in separate airtight containers or freezer bags. They will keep for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge, then reheat in the oven, microwave, or a pot of boiling water.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need boneless skinless chicken breasts, an egg, milk, panko bread crumbs, garlic powder, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, marinara sauce, and olive oil.
It takes 5-6 hours to cook chicken parmesan in a crock pot on low heat. If you are cooking it on high heat, it will take 2-3 hours.
The internal chicken temperature should be 165°F when finished.
