Description
This Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful one-pot meal perfect for busy weeknights. Tender chicken breasts cook slowly alongside penne pasta in a rich sauce made with garlic, Parmesan, mozzarella, and herbs, resulting in a comforting and easy-to-make dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
Pasta
- 8 oz penne pasta (or your preferred pasta)
Sauce & Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for searing)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tablespoon garlic paste)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnishes
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Sear the Chicken (Optional): Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear each chicken breast for 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown. This step adds extra flavor but can be skipped for convenience. Place the chicken into the Crockpot.
- Add Pasta and Broth: Pour the penne pasta and chicken broth evenly around the chicken breasts in the Crockpot, ensuring the pasta is submerged to cook evenly.
- Prepare the Creamy Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together heavy cream, minced garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, dried thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper until fully combined. Pour this sauce mixture evenly over the chicken and pasta in the Crockpot.
- Cook in Crockpot: Cover the Crockpot and cook on low heat for 4–5 hours or on high heat for 2–3 hours. Cooking is complete when the chicken is fully cooked through and the pasta is tender.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the chicken breasts from the Crockpot and shred them using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the Crockpot and stir everything to combine well. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit more chicken broth or cream to loosen it.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the garlic Parmesan chicken pasta hot, garnished with freshly chopped parsley and extra grated Parmesan cheese for an added burst of flavor.
Notes
- For added depth of flavor, sear the chicken before slow cooking, but you can skip this step to save time.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free friendly.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to control the spice level.
- You can substitute chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer darker meat.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently with a splash of broth or cream.
