Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta (Print Version)
Tender chicken in creamy garlic Parmesan sauce over pasta, made effortlessly in your slow cooker for busy weeknights.
# What You'll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ Dairy
02 - 8 oz block cream cheese, softened and cubed
03 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 cup heavy cream
→ Aromatics & Seasonings
05 - 6 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
→ Sauces
10 - 10.5 oz can condensed cream of chicken soup
11 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
→ Pasta
12 - 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
→ Garnish
13 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
# How-To Steps:
01 - Arrange chicken breasts in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together softened cream cheese, Parmesan, heavy cream, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, cream of chicken soup, and chicken broth until completely smooth and well combined.
03 - Pour the prepared sauce mixture evenly over the chicken breasts.
04 - Cover and cook on high setting for 4 hours or low setting for 6 hours, until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and shreds easily.
05 - About 20 minutes before serving, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain thoroughly.
06 - Transfer cooked chicken breasts to a cutting board or plate. Using two forks, shred meat into bite-sized pieces. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir into the sauce.
07 - Add drained pasta to the slow cooker, folding gently until evenly coated with the creamy garlic sauce. Serve immediately, topped with chopped fresh parsley.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce gets impossibly creamy without any stovetop stirring or babysitting
- Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day, if there are any
02 -
- The sauce will look thin at first but thickens beautifully as the cream cheese melts down
- Reserve some pasta water in case the sauce needs thinning after adding the noodles
03 -
- Low sodium chicken broth keeps the dish from becoming overwhelmingly salty
- Let everything sit for 5 minutes before serving so the sauce has time to cling to every bite