Creamy Chicken and Pasta

Name: Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 5 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: cooking spray, to coat; 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, frozen; 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup; 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese; 2 cups chicken stock; 4 cloves garlic; 1 tbsp black pepper; 1 tbsp dehydrated minced onion; 1 tbsp Italian seasoning; 1 tbsp smoked paprika; 1 tbsp onion powder; 1 tbsp garlic powder; 1 tbsp butter seasoning blend; 1 bag (12 oz) frozen peas; 1 lb elbow macaroni; salt, to taste; Parmesan cheese, for serving; crushed red pepper flakes, for serving; fresh parsley, for serving

This slow cooker creamy chicken and pasta is a dump-and-go meal that transforms frozen chicken breasts and cream cheese into a comforting, budget-friendly dinner with minimal prep.

⚡Slow Cooker

🌍American 🏷️Slow cooker 🏷️Chicken 🏷️Pasta 🏷️Creamy chicken Cream cheese

🏷️

🏷️Weeknight dinner

-0:00

the.swift.spoononTikTok

Total

8h 5m

Servings

6

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$34–$56

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by the.swift.spoon

-0:00

the.swift.spoononTikTok

Ingredients

cooking spray, to coat
3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, frozen
1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
1 block (8 oz) cream cheese
2 cups chicken stock
4 cloves garlic
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp dehydrated minced onion
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp butter seasoning blend
1 bag (12 oz) frozen peas
1 lb elbow macaroni
salt, to tasteoptional
Parmesan cheese, for servingoptional
crushed red pepper flakes, for servingoptional
fresh parsley, for servingoptional

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Instructions

1
Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray.
2
Place the frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
3
Add the can of cream of chicken soup and the block of cream cheese on top of the chicken.
4
Pour in the chicken stock.
5
Add the garlic cloves and season generously with black pepper, dehydrated minced onion, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and butter seasoning blend.
6
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.
7
After 8 hours, the chicken will be very tender. Use a spoon or fork to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, stirring to combine with the sauce.
8
Stir in the frozen peas. Leave the lid off to allow the sauce to thicken.
9
While the sauce thickens, cook the pasta in a separate pot of salted, boiling water according to package directions.
10
Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the slow cooker. Stir everything together until well combined.
11
Serve immediately, topped with optional Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes, or fresh parsley if desired.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Cube or tear the cream cheese into small pieces before adding to the slow cooker so it melts evenly without clumping.
Use low heat if possible—high heat can cause the cream sauce to separate or become grainy.
Stir the mixture halfway through cooking if your slow cooker has hot spots to ensure even cooking of the frozen chicken.
Check that chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature at the thickest part before serving.

Substitutions

Cream of chicken soup → Cream of mushroom soup (lighter flavor; use the same amount)
Cream cheese → Sour cream or Greek yogurt (add in the last 30 minutes to prevent curdling)
Chicken stock → Vegetable broth (same volume; works for a lighter version)
Italian seasoning → Dried oregano + dried basil (1.5 tsp combined)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of stock to restore creaminess.

Equipment

slow cooker · meat thermometer

Common Questions

Can I use fresh chicken breasts instead of frozen?

Yes. Fresh chicken breasts will cook faster—reduce the slow cooker time by 1–2 hours and check for doneness (165°F internal temperature) starting at 3–4 hours on low.

Should I add the pasta before or after cooking?

Add cooked pasta to the slow cooker just before serving to prevent mushiness. Cook pasta separately and stir in during the last 10–15 minutes, or serve the creamy sauce over fresh pasta.

What's the best way to reheat this dish?

Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat with a splash of chicken stock or cream to restore creaminess. Avoid high heat, which can break the sauce.