Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Potatoes is the kind of dinner that earns you a standing ovation at the table — and not a single dirty pan to regret it. I still remember the first time I pulled this bubbling, golden dish from my slow cooker on a cold Tuesday evening. The kitchen smelled like garlic butter and toasted Parmesan, and my grandkids came running from every corner of the house.
That memory right there? That’s what slow cooking is all about. Growing up on the farm outside of Dayton, my mama always said a meal worth eating was one that greeted you at the door after a long day. She didn’t have fancy gadgets — just a deep Dutch oven and a lifetime of kitchen wisdom. Now, with my trusty slow cooker on the counter, I get to recreate that same feeling with half the work. This garlic Parmesan chicken and potatoes has become one of those recipes I make at least twice a month, especially when the whole family is coming over. It fills up the biggest bellies, it’s got that creamy, savory sauce that makes everyone ask for seconds, and — best of all — it practically cooks itself. Whether it’s a Sunday dinner or a hectic Wednesday night, this recipe has never once let me down. Your kitchen’s about to smell absolutely incredible!
Why This Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Belongs in Your Recipe Box
Over my years of cooking for big families and even bigger appetites, I’ve learned that the best recipes are the ones that deliver every single time. This garlic Parmesan slow cooker chicken and potatoes checks every box — bold flavor, simple ingredients, and that wonderful set-it-and-forget-it convenience we all crave.
⦁ One-pot simplicity: Everything goes into a single slow cooker insert. Fewer dishes means more time to sit around the table and actually enjoy your people.
⦁ Bold, creamy garlic Parmesan flavor: The Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Sauce is rich and savory, coating every bite of chicken and potato in that irresistible garlicky goodness.
⦁ A complete meal in one pot: You get your protein and your starchy side dish all in one shot — no need for a second burner or extra pans.
⦁ Perfect for busy weeknights: With just 10 minutes of prep and up to 7 hours of hands-off cooking time, you can start this before work and come home to dinner ready and waiting.
⦁ Crowd-pleasing comfort food: Tender chicken, melt-in-your-mouth potatoes, and a blanket of melted mozzarella — this one wins hearts at every table, young and old alike.
⦁ Flexible and customizable: Swap the sauce, adjust the seasonings, or add extra veggies like green beans or carrots. Betty’s recipe is a foundation, not a formula.
Key Players in This Recipe
Every ingredient in this slow cooker garlic Parmesan chicken and potatoes is there for a reason. Here’s what you’ll need and exactly what each one brings to the party:
Chicken Breasts: The star of the show. I always use boneless, skinless chicken breasts — they stay juicy in the slow cooker and soak up that gorgeous garlic Parmesan sauce beautifully. Thighs work great too if you prefer a richer flavor.
Potatoes: In my kitchen, I prefer Yukon Gold or red potatoes for slow cooking. They hold their shape, have a natural buttery flavor, and don’t turn to mush after hours in the cooker. Russets will work in a pinch, but they tend to get softer.
Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Sauce: This is the secret weapon. It’s creamy, garlicky, and packed with Parmesan flavor right out of the bottle. Any quality garlic Parmesan sauce will work if you can’t find it at your local store.
Olive Oil: I always toss my potatoes in olive oil before they go into the slow cooker. It helps the seasonings stick and gives the potatoes a richer, roasted flavor even without an oven.
Minced Garlic: Fresh minced garlic layered right over the chicken adds an aromatic depth that dried garlic simply can’t replicate. I use two heaping tablespoons because in Betty’s kitchen, there’s no such thing as too much garlic.
Italian Seasoning & Paprika: This blend brings an herby warmth and a subtle color to the chicken. I’ve been using Italian seasoning in slow cooker dishes since before most of these fancy spice blends existed — it’s a classic for a reason.
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Added in the final 30 minutes, it melts into a glorious, stretchy topping. I always recommend freshly shredding your own mozzarella — it melts far more evenly than the pre-shredded bags, which are coated in anti-caking agents.
How to Make Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Potatoes
I’ve made this slow cooker garlic Parmesan chicken and potatoes more times than I can count, and through trial and error I’ve learned a few things that make it absolutely perfect every time. Follow these steps and you’ll have a dinner that tastes like it took all day — because it did!
- Prep your potatoes first. Wash and chop them into even, bite-sized pieces — roughly 1-inch cubes. Toss them in a bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika until every piece is well coated.
- Layer the potatoes in the bottom. Spread your seasoned potatoes across the bottom of your 6-quart slow cooker. I’ve learned that keeping them on the bottom ensures they cook all the way through and soak up the drippings from the chicken above.
- Season the chicken generously. Pat your chicken breasts dry, then season them on both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Betty’s tip: don’t rush this step — proper seasoning is what separates a good dish from a great one.
- Place chicken on top of the potatoes. Lay the seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer directly on top of the potatoes. This positioning allows the natural juices from the chicken to baste the potatoes as they cook.
- Add the minced garlic. Spread your minced garlic evenly over each chicken breast. I’ve found that pressing it gently into the surface of the chicken helps it stay put during cooking and really infuses the flavor.
- Pour on the garlic Parmesan sauce. Pour enough Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Sauce over the chicken to coat it thoroughly — don’t be shy. This is the creamy backbone of the entire dish.
- Set it and let it cook. Cover your slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours. My family prefers when I cook it on low for the full time — the chicken gets incredibly tender and the flavors meld together beautifully.
- Add the mozzarella cheese. In the last 30 minutes of cooking, sprinkle a generous layer of shredded mozzarella over the top. Cover and let it melt completely. The key I discovered is not to lift the lid before this point — every peek loses precious heat and extends your cook time.
- Shred, serve, and enjoy! Use two forks to shred or slice the chicken right in the pot before serving. This helps distribute the sauce evenly over every bite. Serve warm, garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh chopped parsley if you have it on hand.
Keeping This Garlic Parmesan Chicken Fresh
I typically store leftovers in a glass airtight container — the sauce stays creamy and the chicken doesn’t dry out. In the refrigerator, this garlic Parmesan chicken and potatoes keeps beautifully for up to 4 days. I always let it cool completely before sealing the container to prevent condensation from watering down that gorgeous sauce.
Betty’s freezing method works well because this dish actually freezes better than most creamy recipes. Portion it into individual serving containers before freezing — it makes weeknight reheating a breeze. Stored properly in the freezer, it’ll keep for up to 2 months. I recommend labeling each container with the date so nothing gets lost in the back of the freezer.
For the best texture, I reheat by adding a small splash of chicken broth or a bit of extra garlic Parmesan sauce to the container before warming it up. A few minutes in the microwave on medium power, stirring halfway through, keeps the sauce from separating. The stovetop works wonderfully too — just warm it over medium-low heat, stirring gently until everything is heated through.
Perfect Partners for Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Potatoes
This dish is hearty enough to stand on its own, but a few simple sides can round it into a true Sunday-dinner spread. Here’s what I love to serve alongside it:
⦁ Simple green salad: A crisp romaine or arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette cuts through the richness of the garlic Parmesan sauce perfectly. The brightness of the greens is a wonderful contrast.
⦁ Steamed or roasted green beans: Green beans add color and a fresh, slightly crisp texture that balances the creamy, soft components of this slow cooker dinner beautifully.
⦁ Crusty artisan bread: Honestly, a thick slice of crusty bread to mop up that extra garlic Parmesan sauce at the bottom of the bowl is one of life’s simple pleasures. [Link to Betty’s homemade dinner rolls recipe]
⦁ Over pasta or rice: Spoon the shredded chicken and sauce over buttered egg noodles, fettuccine, or a bed of white rice to stretch the meal even further for a larger crowd.
⦁ With a side of corn on the cob: In the summer months, nothing pairs better with this creamy chicken than sweet, buttered corn on the cob. It’s a match made in Midwest comfort-food heaven.
FAQs
Can I use frozen chicken in this slow cooker garlic Parmesan recipe?
I recommend always using fully thawed chicken. Cooking frozen chicken in a slow cooker creates a food safety risk because the meat spends too long in the temperature danger zone before reaching a safe internal temperature. Thaw your chicken overnight in the refrigerator before starting this recipe.
Can I make this slow cooker garlic Parmesan chicken ahead of time?
Absolutely — this is one of Betty’s favorite make-ahead dinners. Assemble everything the night before (minus the cheese), refrigerate the whole slow cooker insert, and simply pop it in and turn it on the next morning. It couldn’t be easier.
What can I substitute for Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Sauce?
Any store-bought garlic Parmesan sauce works beautifully here. You can also make a quick homemade version by combining softened butter, minced garlic, Parmesan, a splash of heavy cream, and Italian seasoning. Many home cooks find the Rao’s Homemade Garlic Alfredo Sauce works wonderfully as a substitute.
Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Potatoes
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash and chop potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Toss in a bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika until well coated.
- Spread seasoned potatoes in an even layer across the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Place seasoned chicken breasts on top of the potatoes in a single layer.
- Spread minced garlic evenly over each chicken breast, pressing gently to adhere.
- Pour enough Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Sauce over the chicken to coat it thoroughly.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until chicken is fully cooked and potatoes are fork-tender.
- In the last 30 minutes of cooking, sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Cover and let melt completely.
- Shred or slice chicken before serving for better sauce distribution. Garnish with extra Parmesan or fresh parsley if desired.
