Creamy Crock Pot Chicken Pasta Recipe
This creamy crock pot chicken pasta recipe combines tender, seasoned chicken breasts with a rich, flavorful cream sauce infused with parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs. Slow-cooked to perfection, it features mushrooms, spinach, and penne pasta for a comforting, easy-to-make meal ideal for busy days or family dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 6 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes to 6 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 ½ lb chicken breasts
- 2–3 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
For the Creamy Sauce:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- ¾ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tsp chopped fresh parsley
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Other Ingredients:
- ½ cup Italian herb sun-dried tomatoes, excess oil removed
- 8 oz sliced mushrooms
- 3 oz baby spinach
- ¾ lb short pasta (penne or rotini preferred)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a bowl, combine the chicken breasts with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, and black pepper. Toss well to coat the chicken evenly with the spices.
- Prepare the Crock Pot: Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the crock pot. Add the minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes (with excess oil removed), sliced mushrooms, and baby spinach on top of the chicken.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, softened cream cheese, chicken broth, parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, sea salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Combine and Cook: Pour the creamy sauce over the chicken and vegetables in the crock pot. Cover and cook on low heat for 4 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the cooked chicken breasts from the crock pot and shred them using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the crock pot and stir to combine it thoroughly into the sauce.
- Cook the Pasta: While the chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne or rotini pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions, usually about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the crock pot with the shredded chicken and sauce. Stir until the pasta is well coated with the creamy mixture.
- Finish with Fresh Basil: Stir in the chopped fresh basil for a bright, fresh flavor. Let the pasta warm in the crock pot for an additional 10-15 minutes on low.
- Serve: Spoon the creamy crock pot chicken pasta onto plates or bowls and garnish with extra parmesan or parsley if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Use penne or rotini pasta as they hold the sauce well.
- Remove excess oil from sun-dried tomatoes to prevent the dish from becoming too oily.
- The chicken can be cooked on high for 2-3 hours if short on time, but low and slow cooking yields the best tenderness.
- Fresh herbs such as basil and parsley elevate the dish with vibrant flavor.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half and use reduced-fat cream cheese.
Keywords: creamy chicken pasta, crock pot chicken, slow cooker pasta recipe, easy chicken dinner, Italian chicken pasta, comforting pasta dish
Find it online: https://busyrecipe.com/creamy-crock-pot-chicken-pasta-recipe/