Description

This Creamy Crock Pot Chicken Pasta recipe offers a deliciously comforting meal where tender chicken breasts are slow-cooked to perfection with Italian seasonings, then combined with a rich and creamy sauce packed with cream cheese, parmesan, and fresh herbs. Paired with sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and your choice of short pasta, this easy-to-make crock pot dish delivers a hearty one-pot dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights.

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

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Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, and pepper. Place them in the crock pot as the base for your dish.
Add Vegetables and Tomatoes: Add the sliced mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and minced garlic around the chicken in the crock pot to infuse flavor during cooking.
Cook the Chicken: Pour in the chicken broth before covering the crock pot. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.
Shred the Chicken: Once cooked, remove the chicken breasts and shred them using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the crock pot.
Make the Creamy Sauce: In a separate bowl, mix the heavy cream, softened cream cheese, parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper until smooth. Pour this mixture into the crock pot over the chicken and vegetables, stirring to combine.
Add Spinach and Pasta: Stir in the baby spinach and short pasta into the crock pot. Ensure the pasta is submerged in the creamy sauce and broth for even cooking.
Continue Cooking: Cover and cook on low for an additional 30-45 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and cooked through.
Finish with Fresh Basil: Just before serving, stir in the chopped fresh basil to brighten the flavors and garnish the dish.
Serve: Serve the creamy crock pot chicken pasta hot, optionally garnished with extra parmesan and parsley.

Notes

Ensure the pasta is completely submerged in liquid to avoid uneven cooking in the crock pot.
If you prefer a thicker sauce, reduce the amount of chicken broth slightly or allow the sauce to simmer uncovered for a few minutes after pasta is cooked.
You can swap the chicken breasts for thighs for a juicier result.
Use gluten-free pasta if you need this recipe to be gluten-free.
Adding a splash of white wine to the sauce before cooking can enhance flavor.