Description
This Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Penne recipe is a comforting, easy-to-make dish featuring tender shredded chicken simmered in a rich, creamy sauce with penne pasta. Prepared in a Crock Pot, this meal combines succulent chicken breasts, heavy cream, chicken broth, buttery garlic flavor, and Parmesan cheese for a hearty family-friendly dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 tablespoon garlic puree
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Pasta and Finishings
- 10 oz penne pasta, uncooked
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- ½ tablespoon parsley flakes
Instructions
- Layer Ingredients: Lightly spray the inside of the Crock Pot with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the chicken breasts in a single layer on the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour the heavy cream and chicken broth over the chicken, then add the butter, garlic puree, salt, and black pepper on top.
- Cook Chicken: Cover the Crock Pot and cook on HIGH for 3 hours. This will allow the chicken to cook thoroughly and absorb the creamy flavors.
- Add Pasta: After approximately 2 hours of cooking, carefully remove the chicken breasts and shred them using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker. Add the uncooked penne pasta and shredded Parmesan cheese to the mixture, stirring well to combine all ingredients.
- Cook Pasta: Cover again and continue cooking for 30 minutes on HIGH to allow the pasta to soften and absorb the sauce.
- Combine and Finish: Stir in the shredded chicken and parsley flakes evenly. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes to meld flavors and heat through. Turn off the slow cooker and serve the creamy chicken and penne hot.
Notes
- Cook time may vary slightly depending on your slow cooker model.
- For a lighter dish, you can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, but the sauce will be less rich.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, stir in a small slurry of cornstarch and water during the final 10 minutes of cooking.
- Fresh parsley can be used instead of flakes for added freshness.
- To make this dish gluten-free, substitute penne pasta with a gluten-free pasta variety.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
