Description
This Easy Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful crockpot dinner that combines tender shredded chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and a rich parmesan sauce. With minimal prep and hands-off cooking, it’s the ultimate family-friendly meal for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups uncooked penne pasta (or rotini)
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter option)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Season chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Place chicken and broth into crockpot. Cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours, until chicken is tender.
- Shred chicken directly in the crockpot using two forks.
- Add pasta, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and sauce has thickened.
- Drizzle with olive oil, garnish with parsley, and serve warm.
Notes
- Use whole wheat pasta for extra fiber or gluten-free pasta for dietary needs.
- Add spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms for extra nutrition.
- To freeze, store in portions and reheat with a splash of broth or milk to restore creaminess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (LOW) or 2 hours (HIGH)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Crockpot / Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American-Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 510 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg