Description
This Easy Crock Pot Italian Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful, and fuss-free weeknight meal perfect for busy days. Tender chicken breasts are slow-cooked in zesty Italian dressing, cream cheese, and Parmesan, then combined with pasta to create a comforting and satisfying dish everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (16 oz) bottle Italian dressing (zesty style recommended)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, cubed
- 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Pasta
- 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
Garnish (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the Crock Pot: Grease the inside of your crock pot to prevent sticking. Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot in a single layer.
- Add Sauces and Seasonings: Pour the entire bottle of Italian dressing and the cream of chicken soup over the chicken. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and black pepper evenly on top. Stir lightly to mix the top layer without disturbing the chicken at the bottom too much.
- Add Cream Cheese: Place the cubed cream cheese on top of the mixture in the crock pot. Do not stir yet; this will melt and mix during cooking.
- Cook the Chicken: Cover the crock pot and cook on low heat for 6 to 7 hours, or on high heat for 3 to 4 hours. The chicken should be tender and fully cooked through at this point.
- Shred the Chicken: Using two forks, shred the chicken directly inside the crock pot. Stir well until the sauce and cheese are thoroughly combined creating a creamy, smooth mixture.
- Cook the Pasta: While the chicken finishes cooking, cook the penne or rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta into the crock pot and stir to coat the pasta evenly with the creamy chicken sauce.
- Serve: Dish out the pasta hot, and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired for a fresh flavor and lovely color contrast.
Notes
- This meal can be prepared ahead of time and reheated as needed throughout the week.
- For added nutrition and color, stir in steamed broccoli or fresh spinach just before serving.
- To reduce calories and fat, substitute with low-fat cream cheese and low-fat Italian dressing.
- If you lack a crock pot, this can be adapted to a slow cooker with similar times and settings.
