Our Most Popular New Slow Cooker Recipe of 2024 Is a Lazy Cook’s Dream

We all know evenings can be a challenge doing all you need to do while also getting a hearty meal on the table that your family will love. But mornings can be just as hectic. That’s why Slow Cooker Parmesan Garlic Chicken and Potatoes is such a winner. It shortens your morning prep time by using a prepared sauce while also taking the hassle out of evening mealtime thanks to the slow cooker. 

“The fact that you can make dinner in five minutes and enjoy it later is why the Crock-Pot is one of the greatest inventions of all time,“ says Allrecipes producer Nicole McLaughlin, who introduced this recipe to our community members earlier this year. 

“Well-received” would be an understatement for the response to the dish, which quickly earned more than 30 5-star ratings. Fork-tender chicken and cheesy potatoes drenched in a Parmesan garlic sauce deliver a hearty, savory meal that readers lapped up. 

Nicole understands the appeal. “There is a whole lot of flavor with minimal effort,” she says, “and that right there is a success.”

What’s In Slow Cooker Parmesan Garlic Chicken and Potatoes?

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• Potatoes: Chunks of skin-on potatoes add texture and heartiness to the dish. Nicole used russet, but feel free to substitute with Yukon Gold, reds, or even fingerlings.
• Chicken: Skinless, boneless chicken breasts provide the protein in this recipe. Cut into chunks, the chicken becomes tender and juicy when smothered and cooked in the sauce.
• Prepared Parmesan garlic sauce: Often used as a dipping sauce for wings, Parmesan garlic sauce combines oil, vinegar, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and a handful of spices. We added chicken stock to our sauce to give it more moisture, which keeps the chicken from drying out.
• Cheese: Added to the slow cooker the last 20 or 30 minutes, a layer of shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese forms a melty topping on the tender chicken and potatoes.

The Secret to the Robust Flavor

It’s all in the sauce! The prepared Parmesan garlic sauce from Buffalo Wild Wings combines spices, Parmesan cheese, and garlic for a boost of flavor and a little bit of heat.

Similar to Goldilocks, some reviewers felt the dish was too spicy, some not spicy enough, and others thought it was just right.

Thankfully, a few easy tweaks will help you achieve the heat level you prefer:

• Community member DAMNABLEGIRL added a block of cream cheese, which not only lowered the heat, but also made the sauce creamier.
• Bobbee Valentine added sour cream to achieve the same effect. Since the heat comes from the prepared Parmesan garlic sauce, a few cooks chose to make one from scratch to better control the spice level.
• Community member Lucy is one of those who prefer a “little kick” to the chicken, so she chose a spicier brand of commercial sauce. 

What the Allrecipes Community Has to Say

• “My husband said this is one of the best things I’ve made in the Crock-Pot. And I’ve made A LOT! Thanks for this delicious recipe.” -jilltn
• “Made as written. Will definitely make again. Super easy and love that you can set it and forget it.” -Allrecipes Member
• “Everyone loved this! I made it according to the recipe. My mom loved the spicy flavor, I’m not a fan. So I added sour cream to mine. Great flavor! Thanks for this keeper!” -Bobbee Valentine
• “This was a huge hit!! So easy!” -Jackie
• “Yum! Made as written. Will definitely make again. Super easy. It was a bit too spicy for my 1-year-old. Perfect for everyone else.” -Chantel Grayson Fanke
• “My family enjoyed this meal and the leftovers! I made my own Parm/garlic sauce – super easy to do. This dish was not spicy to us, but it wasn’t bland either. It had a good flavor. Thanks for the recipe!” -jansinsav
• “The recipe directions were easy to follow and the result was a delicious meal that was a hit in this household.” -sam

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Parmesan Garlic Chicken and Potatoes