Ingredients

Gathering your ingredients is the first step to this delicious meal. Using quality ingredients will elevate the final taste significantly.

• 25 oz marinara sauce: The base of our flavorful sauce. Choose a high-quality brand or use your favorite homemade marinara for the best results. A good marinara will provide a rich, sweet tomato flavor.
• 1 white onion, diced: Adds a foundational aromatic layer and a subtle sweetness that mellows during the long cooking process. Dicing it finely ensures it blends seamlessly into the sauce.
• 8 oz cream cheese, cubed: This is the secret ingredient that transforms a simple tomato sauce into a wonderfully creamy, luxurious concoction. Cubing it helps it melt evenly into the sauce. Allow it to come to room temperature for easier stirring.
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning: A classic blend of dried herbs such as oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary. This seasoning provides the authentic Italian flavor profile. Feel free to add a little extra if you prefer a more pronounced herbal note.
• ½ tsp salt: Essential for enhancing and balancing all the flavors in the dish. Adjust to your personal preference, especially if your marinara sauce is already salty.
• ¼ tsp pepper: Freshly ground black pepper is recommended for a brighter, more pungent flavor. It adds a subtle warmth and depth to the sauce.
• ⅓ cup water: Helps to thin the sauce slightly and ensure that the ingredients, especially the chicken, are well-covered and cook evenly in the slow cooker without becoming too dry or thick.
• 1 lb chicken tenderloins, or chicken breasts: Chicken tenderloins cook quickly and remain incredibly tender. If using chicken breasts, you can use them whole or slice them into thinner pieces for quicker cooking and easier shredding later. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are also an excellent option for even juicier results.
• 12 oz rotini pasta, or any pasta: Rotini, with its spiral shape, is excellent for catching and holding the creamy sauce. However, feel free to use any pasta shape your family enjoys, such as penne, ziti, rigatoni, or even spaghetti. Cook it separately and add it at the end.

Instructions

Follow these simple steps for a perfect slow cooker Italian chicken and pasta meal that’s full of flavor and easy to prepare.

1. Prepare the Slow Cooker: Begin by spraying the interior of your slow cooker pot generously with a non-stick cooking spray. This crucial step ensures that your delicious Italian chicken and sauce won’t stick to the sides, making cleanup significantly easier once your meal is devoured.
2. Assemble the Sauce Base: To the bottom of the prepared slow cooker, add the entire jar of marinara sauce. Follow this with the finely diced white onion, the cubed cream cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and water. Using a sturdy spoon or whisk, stir all these ingredients together very well until they are thoroughly combined and the cream cheese begins to break down into the sauce. This creates the rich, creamy, and aromatic foundation for your chicken.
3. Add the Chicken: Gently place the chicken tenderloins or breasts on top of the sauce mixture in the slow cooker. Make sure the chicken pieces are mostly submerged and covered by the sauce. This ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and absorbs all the wonderful Italian flavors as it slowly braises.
4. Slow Cook to Perfection: Secure the lid on your slow cooker. Cook the chicken and sauce on the LOW setting for approximately 5 hours. Cooking on low heat allows the chicken to become incredibly tender, moist, and easily shreddable. The chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and can be easily pulled apart with a fork.
5. Shred the Chicken: Once the chicken is cooked through, carefully remove it from the slow cooker onto a clean cutting board or a shallow dish. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Alternatively, if the chicken is very tender, you can often shred it directly in the slow cooker using the forks. Return the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker, stirring it gently into the creamy Italian sauce to ensure every piece is coated.
6. Cook the Pasta: While the chicken is being shredded, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil on your stovetop. Add your chosen pasta (rotini, penne, etc.) to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions until it is al dente (firm to the bite). Once cooked, drain the pasta thoroughly using a colander.
7. Combine and Serve: Transfer the cooked and drained pasta directly into the slow cooker with the shredded chicken and sauce. Stir everything together gently, ensuring that the pasta is completely coated with the rich and creamy Italian sauce. We love to serve ours immediately, topped generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and, if desired, a sprinkle of fresh parsley or basil for added color and freshness. Enjoy this incredibly easy and flavorful Italian feast!

Tips and Variations for Your Slow Cooker Italian Chicken

This slow cooker Italian chicken and pasta recipe is wonderfully adaptable, allowing you to customize it to your family’s tastes or use up ingredients you have on hand. Here are some tips and variations to make this dish even better:

• Elevate the Flavor: For an extra depth of flavor, consider browning the chicken in a skillet with a little olive oil before adding it to the slow cooker. This step adds a delicious sear, though it’s optional for true dump-and-go convenience. A splash of red wine or chicken broth can also enrich the sauce.
• Add Extra Vegetables: Boost the nutritional content and freshness by incorporating more vegetables. Sliced bell peppers (red, yellow, or green), sautéed mushrooms, or even zucchini chunks can be added to the slow cooker along with the sauce. For softer greens like spinach, stir them in during the last 30 minutes of cooking until wilted.
• Cheese, Please!: While cream cheese provides a creamy base, you can enhance the cheesiness further. Stir in a cup of shredded mozzarella, provolone, or a blend of Italian cheeses during the last 30 minutes of cooking for a meltier, richer sauce. A dollop of ricotta stirred in at the end can also add a delightful texture.
• Spice it Up: If you enjoy a bit of heat, add a pinch or two of red pepper flakes along with the Italian seasoning. You can adjust the amount to your desired spice level.
• Herb Freshness: While dried Italian seasoning works perfectly, finishing the dish with a handful of fresh chopped basil, oregano, or parsley just before serving can brighten the flavors considerably.
• Pasta Alternatives: For a low-carb alternative, serve the creamy Italian chicken over zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, or steamed cauliflower rice. Gluten-free pasta can also be used following package directions.
• Make-Ahead & Freezing: The cooked chicken and sauce mixture (without the pasta) can be prepared ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. It also freezes exceptionally well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating gently on the stovetop or in the slow cooker. Cook fresh pasta when you’re ready to serve.
• Serving Suggestions: This dish is hearty enough to be a complete meal. However, it pairs beautifully with a simple side salad dressed with a light vinaigrette, or some warm, crusty garlic bread to mop up every last drop of the delicious sauce.

Why Use a Slow Cooker for This Italian Chicken and Pasta?

The slow cooker is an invaluable kitchen appliance for recipes like this Italian Chicken and Pasta, offering numerous advantages that make weeknight cooking a breeze. Firstly, its primary benefit is convenience. You can simply add all your ingredients in the morning, turn it on, and let it cook throughout the day without constant monitoring. This hands-off approach frees up your time for other tasks, leading to less stress come dinner time.

Secondly, slow cooking excels at tenderizing meats. The low, consistent heat ensures that chicken, even leaner cuts like breasts, becomes incredibly moist and tender, practically falling apart to be shredded. This gentle cooking method also prevents the chicken from drying out, which can sometimes happen with faster cooking methods.

Thirdly, slow cookers are champions of flavor development. The long simmering time allows all the ingredients—the marinara sauce, diced onions, Italian herbs, and the richness of the cream cheese—to meld together beautifully. This extended cooking process creates a depth of flavor that is hard to achieve in a short amount of time, resulting in a sauce that tastes like it has been lovingly prepared for hours.

Finally, it’s a one-pot (or two-pot if you count the pasta) solution that minimizes cleanup. By cooking the chicken directly in the sauce, all the delicious juices and flavors are retained within the dish, contributing to a more wholesome and flavorful meal. For busy individuals and families seeking delicious, comforting meals with minimal effort, the slow cooker truly shines with this Italian Chicken and Pasta recipe.

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients and brands used.

• Calories: 466 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 53 g
• Protein: 27 g
• Fat: 16 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0.01 g
• Cholesterol: 87 mg
• Sodium: 965 mg
• Potassium: 839 mg
• Fiber: 4 g
• Sugar: 8 g
• Vitamin A: 1048 IU
• Vitamin C: 11 mg
• Calcium: 79 mg
• Iron: 2 mg