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Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta Recipe

Make this Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta recipe for a restaurant-worthy meal with little to no prep. No longer do you have to splurge on this classic dish for takeout! Make this incredibly simple version at home for a new family favorite.

The most decadent, amazing and delicious meal to ever come out of your slow cooker! This Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta continues to get rave reviews!

The slow cooker is a popular choice for many chicken recipes, but have you tried adding your favorite pasta yet? Yes, you really can make a delicious all-in-one meal with creamy, cheesy Alfredo sauce, tender chicken, and perfectly cooked noodles.

Why Chicken Alfredo Is A Family Favorite 

Creamy sauce. Cheese. Pasta… need I say more? In case you haven’t tried chicken Alfredo pasta before, here are a few more reasons to convince you why it is THE best and even better in the slow cooker.

  • The slow cooker version of this famous dish gives you a gourmet-style meal without the cost – plus, extra portions for seconds or leftovers!
  • Using a made-from-scratch recipe, this version contains no preservatives, high sodium levels, or extra oils for a healthy dish that you can serve your family proudly.
  • With the slow cooker, you will get perfectly tender chicken and can also include pasta near the end for a one-pot dish. The traditional method would require at least 3-4 different pieces of cookware!
  • This recipe includes cream cheese which makes the sauce super tasty and filling for everyone. The cream cheese thickens the sauce seamlessly instead of making a traditional roux over the stove.
  • Paired with our favorite veggie side dish or salad, this is a satisfying meal that leaves everyone happy!

Ingredients Needed

  • Chicken – Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for easy shredding. 
  • Chicken broth – Broth creates a flavorful base for the Alfredo sauce. Try chicken bone broth for added nutrients!
  • Herb & garlic seasoning – Alfredo sauce only needs simple seasoning to allow the cheesy flavors to take the lead! This herb & garlic seasoning is a great subtle mix for sauces.
  • Salt – Just a pinch!
  • Cream cheese – Cream cheese is not typically used in stovetop Alfredo sauces, but it works very well in the slow cooker as a creamy base with just the right thickness.
  • Parmesan cheese – Fresh-grated would be the optimal choice but shredded can work just as well!
  • Cornstarch and water – These will make an easy slurry mixture to thicken the sauce near the end.
  • Noodles – I used classic fettuccine noodles for my family but you could also swap for another noodle with a firmer texture such as penne, fusilli, or bow-tie noodles.
  • Add a bit of chopped parsley for garnish if desired!

How To Make Chicken Alfredo In The Slow Cooker 

Making pasta in the slow cooker is not as complicated as it may seem! Simply cook the meats and sauces first, then add pasta toward the end of cooking. With that in mind, be sure to plan to be near your slow cooker when 30 minutes to an hour remains in the cooking time so that you can add and monitor the noodles.

  1. Place chicken, broth, and seasonings in the slow cooker.
  2. Top the chicken with cream cheese and shredded parmesan and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
  3. When the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks. Set the chicken aside in a dish.
  4. Whisk together a slurry of cornstarch and water and add it to the slow cooker.
  5. Using a whisk, stir the slow cooker mixture until the parmesan and cream cheese are combined and smooth.
  6. Break the dry noodles in half and place them in the slow cooker. (As a reminder, this will likely be a few hours into the cooking time depending on the low or high setting.)
  7. Top the noodles with chicken and cover the slow cooker.
  8. Turn the slow cooker on high for 30-60 minutes until the noodles are fully cooked. Stir the noodles 3-4 times during cooking to ensure they do not become mushy.
  9. If noodles are not done after the allotted time, add extra water or broth (1/2 cup at a time) until cooked to al dente.

A few tips for the best Alfredo pasta:

  • Add extra water or broth if the pasta is not tender at the end of cooking and monitor for an additional 10-15 minutes. 
  • Add more cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce if needed. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more chicken broth.
  • Turn off the slow cooker and serve right away for best results.
chicken Alfredo pasta in the slow cooker

Recipe Variations and Substitutions 

  • If you wish, you can cook the noodles separately according to their package directions and just reduce the amount of broth at the beginning. This may be a better option if you won’t be nearby to stir the noodles during slow cooking. Simply add the precooked noodles to the chicken Alfredo mixture when ready to serve!
  • Use different noodles if you like.
  • You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer. You may wish to dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces rather than shredding.
  • Adding frozen veggies is another way to get some extra nutrition in the meal! Simply add a bag of frozen veggies like broccoli cuts or peas at the same time that you add the pasta noodles.
  • Try my homemade Italian dressing mix as a swap for the herb & garlic seasoning. Add a pinch of ground black pepper or crushed red pepper for a little extra spice!

What To Serve With Chicken Alfredo 

Almost any restaurant menu will pair chicken Alfredo pasta with a crunchy Caesar salad and some form of garlic bread. You can’t go wrong with a side of each on your table! To keep your meal prep simple, pick up a salad mix and frozen rolls or bread at the grocery store and recreate this complete meal at home.

If you have time to try out extra veggies, some tasty and colorful options are Sautéed Carrots with Honey or Lemon Pepper Roasted Asparagus. These can be made in a skillet or oven while your slow cooker is working away!

slow cooker chicken Alfredo Pasta twirled on a white plate with a black fork

Storing and Reheating

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat single servings in the microwave. I do NOT recommend freezing Alfredo pasta due to the texture changes in the noodles once defrosted. 

Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo FAQs

  • Would this recipe make a good freezer meal? This recipe can be adapted as an easy freezer meal. Use a freezer-safe gallon bag and assemble all ingredients except noodles, cornstarch, and water. Label your bag for later and follow directions once defrosted! 
  • Would jarred Alfredo sauce work for this recipe? Many other slow cooker recipes DO use jarred Alfredo sauce. However, I don’t recommend swapping ingredients for a jar of sauce here since plenty of liquid is needed for both the chicken and noodles to cook appropriately.
  • How long does it take to cook pasta in the slow cooker? Each slow cooker has a slight temperature variation, so I would estimate that the pasta will cook between 30-60 minutes on the high setting.
  • What to do if the chicken Alfredo is too dry? If the Alfredo is too thick or too dry, add some additional chicken broth and mix well to combine.
The most decadent, amazing and delicious meal to ever come out of your slow cooker! This Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta continues to get rave reviews!

Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Jennifer Draper
Make this Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta recipe for a restaurant-worthy meal with little to no prep. No longer do you have to splurge on this classic dish for takeout! Make this incredibly simple version at home for a new family favorite.
4.47 from 32 votes
Save
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 6
Calories 533 kcal

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound chicken breasts boneless, skinless
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon herb & garlic seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 16 ounces noodles
  • Chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Place chicken, broth, and seasonings in slow cooker
  • Top with cream cheese and shredded parmesan and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours
  • When chicken is fully cooked, remove from slow cooker and shred with forks. Set chicken aside.
  • Whisk together cornstarch and water and add to slow cooker
  • Using a whisk, stir slow cooker mixture until parmesan and cream cheese are combined and smooth
  • Break dry noodles in half and place in slow cooker
  • Top noodles with chicken and cover slow cooker
  • Turn the slow cooker on high for 30-60 minutes until noodles are fully cooked, and stir noodles 3-4 times during cooking
  • If noodles are still not done, add extra water or broth (1/2 cup at a time) until cooked to al dente

Notes

  • Store leftovers for up to 3 days in the fridge. Reheat single servings in the microwave.
  • This recipe will not freeze well due to textural changes when defrosted.
  • Don’t forget to stir the noodles a few times to help them cook evenly and prevent clumping!
  • Add more cornstarch slurry if needed to thicken the sauce. Add more chicken broth if the sauce is too thick.
  • Serve immediately for best results and do not leave on the “keep warm” setting to prevent a mushy dish!
  • Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 533kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 35gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 576mgPotassium: 637mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 463IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 230mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @slowcookergourmet or tag #slowcookergourmet!
Important nutritional disclaimer

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32 Comments

  1. 4 stars
    Made this tonight and really enjoyed it. It did really dry out though – I spent the whole day worrying there was too much sauce then there was none left once the pasta had cooked!

  2. This looks great!!! Is there a way to use chicken thighs instead? We are trying to use up food before moving hahaha!

  3. Can I use fresh pasta? Like the refrigerated sections bertoli linguine? Which would probably shorten the cooking time for that step? Any other modifications needed if so?

  4. Currently I have seasoning, broth, chicken and cream cheese in the crock pot. Do I add the cheese now before the 3-4 cook time? Please help!?

    1. Hi Talyn! Make sure you check out step 2 – that’s the first part where you will cook the chicken for 3-4 hours on high. The 30-60 minutes is for the pasta. Together the total cook time is 5 hours. Hope that helps!

  5. Is there something I can substitute the cream cheese with or just leave it out? Cream cheese is a deal breaker in my family.

  6. Whoaaaaa, hold up. You can make ALFREDO in a slow cooker?! I would have never even thought to try this but it sounds so amazing! I’m giving this a try ASAP.

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