Description
This BEST Crockpot Chicken Alfredo recipe offers a creamy, comforting meal featuring tender shredded chicken, perfectly cooked penne pasta, and a rich homemade Alfredo sauce. Made effortlessly in a slow cooker, it’s ideal for busy weeknights and promises easy cleanup with delicious results.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 2 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
Pasta and Garnish
- 8 oz penne pasta, uncooked
- ¾ cup parmesan cheese
- Freshly grated parmesan, for topping (optional)
- Chopped greens, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Add the chicken breast, cream cheese, cubed butter, minced garlic, salt, pepper, chicken broth, and heavy whipping cream into the slow cooker. Ensure ingredients are evenly distributed to allow thorough cooking.
- Cook chicken: Set the slow cooker to high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours. Cook until the chicken breast is fully cooked and tender enough to shred easily with forks.
- Shred chicken: Remove the chicken from the crockpot and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
- Add pasta and cheese: Stir in the uncooked penne pasta and parmesan cheese into the slow cooker with the shredded chicken and sauce. Mix gently to combine.
- Cook pasta: Cook on high for an additional 35-40 minutes or until the penne pasta is fully cooked and tender. Stir occasionally if possible to prevent sticking.
- Serve: Once cooked, serve the Alfredo topped with extra freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped fresh greens if desired, for added color and flavor.
Notes
- This recipe is perfect for busy dinners because it requires minimal hands-on time and uses just one appliance—the slow cooker.
- Ensure the chicken is cooked thoroughly before shredding for best texture.
- Stir the pasta in gently to avoid breaking it and to prevent sticking during cooking.
- For a lower-fat version, consider substituting half-and-half for heavy cream, but note it may alter the richness.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat beautifully.
- Feel free to add steamed broccoli or sautéed mushrooms for extra veggies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 754 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 929 mg
- Fat: 56 g
- Saturated Fat: 34 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 211 mg
