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A creamy Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta dish in a slow cooker, ready to serve.

Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

This creamy crockpot recipe features tender chicken slow-cooked with garlic, Parmesan, and a rich sauce, then combined with pasta for a comforting meal the whole family will love.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Slow cooker
  • Medium bowl
  • Whisk
  • Two forks

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 1.5 - 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 4-6 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 8 ounces short pasta e.g., penne, rotini, cavatappi
  • Fresh parsley or basil for garnish (optional)

Instructions
 

Cooking

  • Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray, then place the chicken breasts or thighs in a single layer at the bottom.
  • Sprinkle the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and pepper over the chicken.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together chicken broth, heavy cream, and softened cream cheese until smooth, then pour this mixture over the chicken.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or on HIGH for 2-2.5 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and easily shreds.
  • Remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker, shred it with two forks, and then return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
  • ***Option 1 (Cook pasta in Crockpot):*** Stir in 1 cup of Parmesan cheese and the uncooked short pasta, adding extra chicken broth if needed; cook on HIGH for 20-30 minutes until al dente, stirring occasionally.
  • ***Option 2 (Cook pasta separately):*** While the chicken is shredding, cook and drain 8 ounces of short pasta according to package directions. Stir the cooked pasta and 1 cup of Parmesan cheese into the slow cooker with the shredded chicken and sauce.
  • Stir all ingredients together until well combined and heated through, then garnish with fresh parsley or basil and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

For best results, do not overcook the pasta, especially if cooking it directly in the crockpot. The chicken can also be prepared ahead of time and kept warm while the pasta cooks. Adjust seasoning to your preference.