These Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Meatballs are the kind of easy, creamy slow cooker dinner that disappears fast. Tender chicken meatballs simmer in a rich parmesan cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, and a little heat from red pepper flakes. Serve them over pasta, mashed potatoes, rice, or toasted bread for a cozy dinner everyone will want again.
If you love simple chicken dinners with big flavor, you’ll also want to make my Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta and this rich, restaurant-style Chicken Bryan.
More Meatball Recipes You’ll Love
Why You’ll Love These Slow Cooker Chicken Meatballs
- Uses frozen fully cooked chicken meatballs for an easy shortcut
- The creamy sun-dried tomato sauce tastes fancy but takes minutes to put together
- Perfect over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or tucked into toasted hoagie rolls
- Great for busy weeknights, Sunday dinner, or an easy dinner for company
- The leftovers are just as good the next day
Marry Me Chicken is known for its creamy parmesan sauce, savory sun-dried tomatoes, and garlicky Italian flavor. Turning it into a crockpot meatball recipe makes it even easier because the slow cooker does most of the work for you.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Frozen fully cooked chicken meatballs
- Chicken broth
- Heavy cream
- Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
- Fresh garlic
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper
- Fresh basil or parsley, for serving
Use chicken meatballs for the classic flavor, but turkey meatballs work beautifully too. Just be sure they are fully cooked before adding them to the slow cooker.
How to Make Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Meatballs
Add the frozen chicken meatballs to the bottom of your crockpot.
Pour in the chicken broth, then add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Gently stir everything together until the meatballs are coated.
Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours or on HIGH for 1 ½ to 2 hours, until the meatballs are hot all the way through.
About 20 to 30 minutes before serving, stir in the heavy cream and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Cover again and let the sauce warm through until creamy and smooth.
Give the sauce a final stir, then top with sliced basil or chopped parsley. Serve warm with your favorite pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread.
For an easy side dish that soaks up every bit of that creamy sauce, serve these meatballs with Homemade Rice a Roni or buttery mashed potatoes.
Can I Use Homemade Meatballs?
Absolutely. If you have homemade chicken meatballs, bake or pan-sear them first so they are fully cooked, then add them to the crockpot with the sauce ingredients. This recipe is especially helpful for using up a batch of homemade meatballs from the freezer.
What to Serve with Marry Me Chicken Meatballs
These creamy chicken meatballs are delicious with:
- Fettuccine, penne, bow ties, or egg noodles
- Mashed potatoes
- White rice or Homemade Rice a Roni
- Roasted broccoli or green beans
- A simple Caesar salad
- Crusty garlic bread
- Toasted hoagie rolls for creamy meatball sandwiches
If you are craving another cozy, creamy pasta dinner after this one, make Spicy Pumpkin Vodka Pasta next.
Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Meatballs
Creamy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Meatballs are an easy slow cooker dinner made with tender chicken meatballs in a rich parmesan sun-dried tomato sauce. Serve them over egg noodles, rice, mashed potatoes, or with crusty bread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: SLOW COOKER
- Cuisine: Tuscan Inspired
Ingredients
- 28 ounces frozen fully cooked chicken meatballs
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Add the frozen chicken meatballs to the crockpot.
- Pour the chicken broth over the meatballs. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir gently to coat.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, or on HIGH for 1½ to 2 hours, until the meatballs are heated through.
- During the final 20 to 30 minutes of cooking, stir in the heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and fresh basil.
- Cover and cook until the parmesan has melted and the sauce is creamy. Stir once more before serving.
- Garnish with extra basil and parmesan. Serve over egg noodles, pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or with crusty bread.
Notes
- Use fully cooked frozen chicken meatballs. Turkey meatballs work well, too.
- Freshly grated parmesan melts smoother than pre-shredded parmesan.
- For a thicker sauce, leave the crockpot uncovered for the last 10 to 15 minutes of cook time.
- For spinach Marry Me Chicken Meatballs, stir in 2 cups fresh baby spinach with the cream and parmesan.
Tips for the Best Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Meatballs
Use freshly grated parmesan if possible. Bagged shredded parmesan can make creamy sauces a little grainy, while freshly grated parmesan melts beautifully.
Do not add the cream too early. Stirring it in near the end keeps the sauce smooth and prevents it from separating during the long cook time.
Chop the sun-dried tomatoes fairly small so you get their sweet, tangy flavor in every bite.
Want a thicker sauce? Leave the crockpot uncovered for the last 10 to 15 minutes, or stir in a little more parmesan cheese.
For a little more heat, add an extra pinch of red pepper flakes. If your family does not like spice, simply leave them out.
Variations
For spinach Marry Me Chicken Meatballs, stir in a few handfuls of fresh baby spinach with the cream and parmesan. Let it wilt in the warm sauce before serving.
For a heartier dinner, add sliced mushrooms during the last hour of cooking.
For a lower-carb option, serve the meatballs over cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, or roasted spaghetti squash.
For extra flavor, stir in a spoonful of the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar along with the broth.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add a splash of chicken broth, milk, or cream if the sauce has thickened too much in the refrigerator.
You can freeze leftovers for up to 2 months, although cream sauces can separate slightly once thawed. Reheat slowly and stir well to bring the sauce back together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen turkey meatballs instead?
Yes. Frozen fully cooked turkey meatballs are a great substitute and work exactly the same way in this recipe.
Can I cook this on high?
Yes. Cook the meatballs on HIGH for 1 ½ to 2 hours, then add the cream and parmesan during the final 20 to 30 minutes.
Can I use half-and-half instead of heavy cream?
You can, but the sauce will be thinner and less rich. Heavy cream gives this recipe that signature creamy Marry Me Chicken texture.
Are chicken meatballs already cooked?
Most frozen chicken meatballs are fully cooked, but always check the package. This recipe is written for fully cooked frozen meatballs.
Final Thoughts
Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Meatballs are an easy way to turn a bag of frozen meatballs into a creamy, comforting dinner that feels special enough for company. The rich parmesan sauce, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes make every bite irresistible—and the slow cooker makes dinner wonderfully hands-off.
