Description
Creamy crockpot chicken alfredo pasta brings Italian comfort straight to your kitchen with minimal effort. Cheesy, tender chicken melts into rich sauce, creating a simple weeknight dinner that will satisfy hungry families without complicated cooking techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Pasta and Sauce:
- 3 cups uncooked penne pasta
- 1 jar (15 ounces / 425 grams) Alfredo sauce
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Liquid:
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in the crockpot with chicken broth, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Slow cook on low temperature for 6 hours or high temperature for 3 hours until chicken is fully tender and easily shreddable.
- Extract chicken from the liquid, shred into bite-sized pieces using two forks, and reserve to the side.
- Pour uncooked pasta and heavy cream directly into the crockpot, gently stirring to ensure even distribution. Cook on high setting for 30-40 minutes, periodically checking pasta’s texture until it reaches desired tenderness.
- Incorporate Alfredo sauce into the pasta mixture, then fold in previously shredded chicken and Parmesan cheese. Thoroughly blend all ingredients and continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld together.
- Before serving, sprinkle freshly chopped parsley across the top as a vibrant garnish to enhance visual appeal and add a subtle herbal note to the dish.
Notes
- Ensure chicken is fully cooked by checking internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety.
- Break pasta noodles in half to help them cook evenly and prevent clumping in the crockpot.
- Opt for low-fat cream or milk alternatives to reduce calorie content for health-conscious individuals.
- Experiment with gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 660 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 44 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg