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Flavorful shredded chicken and tender penne pasta come together in a light and creamy sauce. This Crock Pot garlic Parmesan chicken pasta is an easy dinner that the entire family will love!
Table of Contents
- Ingredients for Crock Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- How to Make Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- What to Serve with Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Storage Tips
- Recipe Variations
- Tips for the Best Creamy Garlic Parmesan CHicken Pasta Recipe
- Crock Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe
We all appreciate an easy Crock Pot chicken dinner that we can turn to on our busiest nights! This slow cooker garlic parmesan chicken pasta is one of those gems, since it appeals to both kids and adults; it takes advantage of simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen; and it requires minimal hands-on effort.
The chicken simmers slowly in the Crock Pot with broth and seasoning, while cream cheese stirred in at the end gives it a rich, creamy texture. Boil the pasta separately on the stovetop so that it’s cooked perfectly (not overdone and mushy), stir everything together, and then finish off the dish with plenty of grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
This restaurant-quality dish is full of flavor, but it’s not as heavy as a traditional roux-based Alfredo sauce. Pair the Crock Pot garlic parmesan chicken pasta with a simple green salad and a loaf of garlic bread for the ultimate weeknight dinner!
Can you boil noodles in a crock pot?
Yes, some recipes call for cooking the noodles directly in the slow cooker with the chicken and sauce. While this works, you need to include extra liquid in the pot (since the pasta absorbs a good amount as it cooks), and you need to keep a very close eye on the noodles as they simmer. Pasta can go from undercooked to overdone very quickly, which means that Crock Pot noodles often have a gummy, mushy texture — not ideal!
Instead, I prefer to cook the pasta separately on the stovetop just before serving. This way you can ensure that the penne (or other noodles of choice) are perfectly al dente before combining them with the chicken and sauce.
Can you put frozen chicken in the crock pot?
No, food safety experts do not recommend putting frozen chicken directly into a slow cooker. Since a Crock Pot takes a long time to bring frozen meat up to a safe cooking temperature, this allows for the potential growth of harmful bacteria. Instead, thaw the chicken using one of these safe methods before adding it to the slow cooker.
Ingredients for Crock Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for this parmesan garlic chicken pasta crock pot recipe. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Chicken: either boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs will work, so pick your favorite.
- Italian seasoning: a convenient blend of marjoram, thyme, basil, rosemary, savory, and oregano.
- Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper: additional seasoning that adds flavor to the dish.
- Chicken broth: the base of the sauce, which contributes moisture to the pot while the chicken cooks. Use low-sodium chicken broth if you’re watching your salt intake.
- Cream cheese: adding a block of cream cheese at the end gives the sauce a creamy, cheesy taste and a thick, rich, smooth texture.
- Pasta: I use penne, but just about any pasta will work, so pick your favorite shape. Good options include rotini, fusilli, farfalle (bowties), fettuccine, rigatoni, spaghetti, and linguine.
- Parmesan cheese: use a wedge of freshly-grated cheese for the best flavor and texture. A can of pre-grated Parmesan will also work in a pinch.
- Chopped fresh basil: for a bright, fresh, flavorful garnish.
How to Make Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
A garlic parmesan chicken pasta Crock Pot recipe to the rescue! Weeknights don’t get much better than this. I’ve included detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the quick version:
- Place chicken in a slow cooker.
- Coat chicken with seasoning.
- Pour in the broth.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 1-2 hours, or on LOW for 3-4 hours.
- Shred chicken with two forks, return to the slow cooker, and stir in the cream cheese.
- Boil the pasta on the stove top, then drain.
- Pour pasta into the chicken and garlic parmesan sauce, and toss to coat.
- Top with grated Parmesan and chopped fresh basil.
What to Serve with Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Everyone loves this creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta slow cooker recipe! Pair the flavorful dish with any of these sides:
- Garlic Bread or Breadsticks
- 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Flaky Biscuits, Cheese Biscuits, or Drop Biscuits
- No-Knead Cast Iron Focaccia, Crusty French Baguette, Focaccia Bread, No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread, Soft Dinner Rolls, or Homemade Crescent Rolls
- 3-Ingredient Sour Cream Muffins, Pumpkin Muffins, or Pumpkin Bread
- Green Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette, Mixed Greens with Dijon Vinaigrette, Wedge Salad with Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, Caesar Salad, or our favorite House Salad with Candied Pecans
- Fennel Salad with Apples and Creamy Cider Dressing
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower or Garlic Roasted Broccoli
- Sauteed Zucchini or 3-Ingredient Parmesan Roasted Yellow Squash
- Sweet and Spicy Collard Greens with Tomatoes and Onions or Sauteed Spinach
Storage Tips
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat the chicken and pasta on the stovetop over low heat, just until warmed through (about 5-10 minutes). Add heavy cream or half-and-half to thin the sauce if it seems too dry. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave for about 30 seconds – 1 minute.
I do not recommend freezing the creamy pasta. Dairy-based sauces tend to separate (or “break”) when thawed, resulting in a very undesirable texture. The pasta will likely have a mushy texture when thawed, too.
Recipe Variations
- Different types of pasta will work in this dish. I used penne here, but other good options include fusilli, rotini, rigatoni, farfalle (bowtie pasta), elbows, spaghetti, fettuccini, and linguine. You can also use gluten-free pasta, if desired.
- Add veggies to the pasta, such as broccoli or frozen peas. You can even cook broccoli florets in the pot of boiling pasta for the final 3 minutes.
- Use less chicken, and replace some of the meat with budget-friendly white beans.
- Make it spicy by adding a dash of cayenne pepper to the sauce, or by garnishing each serving with crushed red pepper flakes.
- Garnish with additional fresh herbs, if desired. Try fresh parsley, fresh oregano, fresh rosemary, or fresh chives.
Tips for the Best Creamy Garlic Parmesan CHicken Pasta Recipe
- Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, depending on your preference. Chicken thighs tend to stay more moist and juicy in the slow cooker than the white meat chicken breast, but either option works fine!
- All slow cookers run at slightly different temperatures, so cooking times vary. My Crock Pot tends to cook dishes pretty quickly, so my chicken is always done after about 1 hour on HIGH, or about 2 ½ – 3 hours on LOW. Just get to know your pot, and keep a close eye on the meat the first time that you prepare this dish.
- Allow the cream cheese to come to room temperature and dice into cubes before stirring it into the pot. This will help the cheese melt smoothly into the sauce.
- For even more Parmesan flavor, stir additional grated Parmesan cheese directly into the sauce at the same time that you add the cream cheese.
- For an even richer sauce, stir in some heavy cream at the same time that you add the cream cheese.
More Crock Pot Chicken Recipes to Try
Crock Pot Chicken and Noodles
2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
2 hours hrs 40 minutes mins
Crock Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature and cubed
- 16 ounces uncooked penne pasta
- Grated Parmesan cheese, to taste
- Chopped fresh basil, to taste
Instructions
- Place chicken in a 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker. Add the Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, onion powder, and black pepper. Toss to coat the chicken in the seasoning.
- Add the chicken broth, cover the slow cooker with a lid, and cook on HIGH for 1-2 hours or on LOW for 3-4 hours, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- When the cooking time is almost done, boil the pasta on the stovetop according to the package directions for al dente. Drain.
- Remove the chicken and shred with two forks. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and give everything a good stir.
- Add the cream cheese to the slow cooker, stir, cover, and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the cream cheese melts and incorporates into the sauce.
- Stir the cooked pasta into the chicken and sauce. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if desired. Top with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil.
Notes
- Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, depending on your preference. Chicken thighs tend to stay more moist and juicy in the slow cooker than the white meat chicken breast, but either option works fine!
- All slow cookers run at slightly different temperatures, so cooking times vary. My Crock Pot tends to cook dishes pretty quickly, so my chicken is always done after about 1 hour on HIGH, or about 2 ½ – 3 hours on LOW. Just get to know your pot, and keep a close eye on the meat the first time that you prepare this dish.
- Allow the cream cheese to come to room temperature and dice into cubes before stirring it into the pot. This will help the cheese melt smoothly into the sauce.
- For even more Parmesan flavor, stir additional grated Parmesan cheese directly into the sauce at the same time that you add the cream cheese.
- For an even richer sauce, stir in some heavy cream at the same time that you add the cream cheese.
Looks delicious! I’m thinking of making it for an upcoming family gathering. Do you think it would work to double it?
Yes, ma’am! I think that would work really well. Just make sure that you’re using a very large slow cooker (at least 6 quarts or larger). Hope your family enjoys it!
Absolutely delicious recipe that my whole family enjoys! My 9 year old even asked for it for his birthday dinner! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
We’re so happy to read this and are glad your family enjoys the recipe! Thank you for sharing, Casey.