Description
Tender chicken, perfectly cooked potatoes, and a creamy garlic parmesan sauce come together in this easy, comforting slow cooker meal that practically cooks itself. Set it and forget it!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts if you prefer)
- 2 pounds baby potatoes, halved (red or gold work beautifully)
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup chicken broth (low sodium works best)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch (for thickening)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken and Potatoes
Season your chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper on both sides. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and brown the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side. You’re not cooking it through—just getting that beautiful golden sear that locks in flavor. Transfer the browned chicken to a plate.
Next, in the same skillet, add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Don’t let the garlic burn or it will taste bitter! - Layer in the Slow Cooker
Place the halved baby potatoes at the bottom of your slow cooker. This creates a nice bed for the chicken and helps the potatoes absorb all those delicious flavors. Next, arrange the seared chicken on top of the potatoes. - Create the Garlic Parmesan Sauce
In a medium bowl, whisk together chicken broth, Italian seasoning, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes (if using). Pour this mixture over the chicken and potatoes in the slow cooker. - Set It and Forget It
Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and the potatoes are fork-tender. This is the magic of slow cooking—the flavors meld together beautifully while you’re off handling other parts of your life! - Add the Creamy Finishing Touch
About 30 minutes before serving, mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Stir this into the slow cooker. Add the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, then stir gently to combine. Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Before serving, taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Swap potatoes for cauliflower florets for a lower-carb option. No fresh garlic? 1 tablespoon of garlic powder will work in a pinch. Romano or Asiago cheese can replace Parmesan if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-8 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 145mg