Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Better than what you can get at most restaurants and it comes out of your slow cooker! This Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta is a family favorite dinner recipe!
Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta is a super easy, family-friendly meal with zero prep work.
You can get a gourmet-style meal on the table for your family without a lot of work or having to pay tons of money for take-out.
Alfredo sauce is a garlic and Parmesan cream sauce used in a variety of Italian dishes. This recipe uses cream cheese instead of the traditional cream to make the sauce more slow cooker friendly. It will also be thicker.
Using chicken breasts makes for a healthier meal. Cooking them in the slow cooker with broth makes them tender and delicious.
Serve it with garlic bread and a green salad.
Making pasta in the slow cooker:
I have several recipes here on my blog that use pasta, like this Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Pasta and this Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken Pasta. I know it can sound kind of crazy to make pasta in the slow cooker, but with a little practice and by following these instructions, you’ll find it such and easy way to make a meal like this any day of the week without all the work.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- chicken breasts
- chicken broth
- herb and garlic seasoning
- salt
- cream cheese
- Parmesan cheese (fresh melts better and tastes better than dried)
- cornstarch
- water
- noodles
- parsley, for garnish
How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo:
- place chicken, broth, and seasonings in slow cooker
- top with Parmesan cheese and cream cheese, cook on high 3-4 hours or low 6-8 hours
- remove fully cooked chicken and shred, set aside
- whisk together water and cornstarch, add to slow cooker
- use whisk to stir together contents of slow cooker until cheeses are combined and smooth
- break noodles in half and place in slow cooker
- top with chicken and cover
- turn slow cooker to high for 30-60 minutes until noodles are fully cooked, stirring 3-4 times during cooking
- if noodles are not done, add extra water or broth (1/2 cup at a time) until cooked
** if cooking noodles separately, reduce the amount of broth **
Pro Tips For Making Pasta In The Slow Cooker:
Cooking pasta in the slow cooker doesn’t have to be a chore! Cook your meats, etc. first and add the pasta toward the end.
Make sure you plan about 30-45 minutes at the end for cooking your pasta.
Don’t forget to stir it a couple of times during that time frame to ensure it cooks evenly without clumping!
Add extra water or broth if pasta is not cooked tender. Add additional cornstarch to thicken sauce if needed.
Serve right away rather than keeping on warm for best results.
Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta
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 cheese and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8
- When chicken is fully cooked, remove to separate bowl and shred with two forks
- Set aside chicken
- Whisk together corn starch and water and add to slow cooker
- Use a whisk and stir until cheese and cream cheese is combined and smooth
- Break noodles in half and place in slow cooker
- Top with chicken and cover
- Turn slow cooker on high for 30-60 minutes until noodles are fully cooked, stir 3-4 times during cooking
- If noodles are not done you can add extra broth or water, 1/2 cup at a time
Notes
- Add more cornstarch if needed to thicken sauce
- Stir pasta 3-4 times while cooking
- Serve immediately for best results
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!
This looks great!!! Is there a way to use chicken thighs instead? We are trying to use up food before moving hahaha!
Yes! If they are boneless, skinless then just swap them out!
Thank you for the quick reply! Do I need to shorten the cooking time?
Thank you!!
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?
Yes, but I would reduce the liquid and the cook time for the pasta.
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!?
Yes, add the cream cheese and shredded cheese at the start.
Does it take 30-60 minutes to cook or 5 hours?
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!
Is there something I can substitute the cream cheese with or just leave it out? Cream cheese is a deal breaker in my family.
Hi Allison! I think it would be possible to modify with a little experimenting. Maybe add some cream and extra cornstarch.
It’s only a dealbreaker if they know about it!
Can you clarify when and how you put the cream cheese and cheese into the Crock-Pot? Thanks 🙂
Hi Rachel! You add it in step 2!!
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.
Yes!! Amazingly easy and delicious!
Totally agree with you about this great quick-cooking pasta! It has been my fav for years in an easy week-night meals 🙂 ~ Natalie
What happens if I skip the cornstarch step?
The sauce won’t thicken up for you.