Slow Cooker Marry Me Tortellini

Behind This Marry Me Chicken Tortellini Recipe

Is there anything better than throwing your ingredients into a slow cooker on a weekday? As a permanent multitasker, I take any opportunity to keep these hands free! And if you’ve tried my one-pot marry me chicken pasta, I think you’ll love how simple this (also one-pot) slow cooker tortellini recipe is. You can just set it and forget it.

The term ‘marry me’ was coined because the original Marry Me Chicken is so good, it might just bring about a marriage proposal. From the Parmesan cheese, garlicky sauce, and tangy sun-dried tomatoes, it’s easy to see why.

I include stovetop instructions as an easy alternative to the slow cooker, if you need it. If you don’t have tortellini, make this recipe with ravioli or another pasta instead. I’ve also made variations of marry me chicken stuffed shells and marry me chicken orzo.

Ingredients You’ll Need & Why

The straightforward ingredient list for this slow cooker marry me chicken tortellini uses items you may already have in the kitchen. Review the recipe card below for precise measurements.

Chicken: You can make this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken breasts or cutlets. If you use thighs, keep in mind that thigh meat will need longer to cook.

Tortellini: Fresh, refrigerated, or frozen. If you’re using frozen tortellini, thaw it first. Select one with a complementary filling like 4-cheese, Italian sausage, chicken + roasted garlic, etc.

Garlic: Freshly minced garlic. No jars or tubes compare to the real thing!

Onions: Half of an onion adds the aromatics. It can be yellow onion or shallot.

Sun-dried Tomatoes: You’ll need one whole jar of drained, julienned sun-dried tomatoes. If you dislike sun-dried tomatoes, you can replace them with fresh cherry or grape tomatoes.

Chicken Stock: Mixed with a little cornstarch to thicken the sauce. You can use flour instead of cornstarch, if needed.

Heavy Cream: Adds the decadent creaminess to the sauce. You could also use cream cheese. For a lighter sauce, use half-and-half instead.

Parmesan: Freshly grated is always best for maximum flavor and meltiness, without anti-caking agents or fillers.

Seasonings: Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning (my secret ingredient!), and salt and pepper.

Butter: Just 2 tablespoons butter, plus 1 tablespoon olive oil to sear the chicken, either in your slow cooker (if it has a Sauté setting) or on the stovetop.

Basil: Fresh basil leaves are a staple of marry me pasta recipes. I highly recommend that you don’t try substituting dried basil. It just doesn’t have the same bright flavor.

How to Make Marry Me Chicken Tortellini

Blending elements of chicken alfredo with my creamy Tuscan pasta and creamy tomato tortellini, this marry me chicken tortellini is seriously good. Best of all, it’s a breeze to make in the slow cooker or crock pot, making it wonderful to come home to for a cozy weeknight dinner.

Sauté the Chicken

If you have a sauté function on your slow cooker or multicooker, add butter and oil over “high” on sauté. Brown the chicken for 2 minutes per side. Then, scoot the chicken to the side, add the onion and garlic, and sauté about 1 minute, until fragrant.

If you don’t have a sauté function, you can sear the chicken in a skillet on the stove instead. Otherwise, simply add the seasoned raw chicken straight into the slow cooker, along with the onion and garlic. It will still taste delicious.

Combine the Ingredients in the Slow Cooker

Next, pour the chicken stock, heavy cream, seasonings, and sun-dried tomatoes over the chicken.

Set It and Forget It

Cover and slow cook on High for 3 hours. At this point, the chicken should be tender and easy to shred. Use two forks to shred it right inside the pot. Then, stir in the Parmesan.

Add the Tortellini

Add the tortellini, submerging it fully into the chicken and sauce. Cover and cook the marry me chicken tortellini for another 15 minutes, or until the tortellini is tender. Lastly, stir in the fresh basil leaves. Switch your slow cooker to the “keep warm” function while serving. Garnish each bowl with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Skillet Preparation for Marry Me Tortellini

Looking to make this in a skillet instead of a slow cooker? Follow these steps:

• In a large skillet, add butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add in seasoned chicken and cook through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Set aside the chicken.
• Add the onion and garlic to the skillet, and sauté until fragrant. Next, add the sun-dried tomatoes and seasonings. 
• Pour in the chicken stock + 1 tbsp cornstarch and heavy cream. Bring the pan to a low simmering boil, allowing the sauce to thicken. Stir in the Parmesan.
• Finally, add the tortellini. Cook uncovered, about 5-7 minutes, or until the tortellini is tender. Enjoy!

Looking for More Easy Pasta Recipes?

If you frequently turn to easy pasta dinners, try my creamy Italian sausage pasta, one-pan lemon parmesan pasta, and Cajun chicken pasta. I also love this cold chicken Caesar pasta salad in the summer months.

Have you tried this Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Tortellini? If so, I’d love to hear what you thought! Leave a comment below with your questions or feedback. Your reviews help other readers in the Bad Batch Baking community decide what to make next.

Be sure to tag me @BadBatchBaking on social media using #badbatchbaking so I can see what you’re cooking!