Description
This Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta is an easy, comforting slow-cooker meal that combines tender, seasoned chicken with a rich and creamy sauce, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and pasta. Perfect for busy days, this recipe delivers juicy chicken infused with Italian flavors, cooked low and slow, then mixed with al dente pasta for a delightful one-pot dinner.
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 and pepper, adjust to your preference
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 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 basil
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken and vegetables: Pat dry the chicken breasts with a paper towel and place them in a single layer at the bottom of a lightly oiled crock pot. Sprinkle the chicken evenly with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, and pepper. Layer the sliced mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes over the top of the chicken.
- Add the creamy sauce: In a separate bowl, combine the heavy cream, softened cream cheese, chicken broth, grated parmesan, chopped parsley, minced garlic, sea salt, and pepper. Pour this mixture evenly over the chicken and vegetables, ensuring the chicken is fully covered.
- Cook the chicken: Cover and cook the crock pot on LOW for about 3 to 4 hours, checking at around 2 hours. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. If the sauce appears curdled, gently stir it to re-incorporate the cream cheese and restore creaminess.
- Shred and add greens: Once cooked, shred or cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces inside the crock pot. Add the baby spinach and chopped basil, stirring to combine and allowing the greens to wilt into the sauce.
- Cook the pasta and finish the dish: While the greens cook down, prepare the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and stir the pasta into the crock pot mixture until well coated and combined.
- Serve: Garnish with additional fresh basil and grated parmesan cheese if desired. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- All crock pots cook differently; adjust cook time based on the size of chicken breasts and your appliance.
- For juiciest chicken, use fresh, never frozen, high-quality chicken breasts from a butcher or meat counter.
- Using full-fat cream cheese and heavy cream adds moisture and richness, helping the chicken stay tender during slow cooking.
- Ensure chicken breasts are in a single layer for even cooking and to prevent dry, overcooked spots.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
