Description
This Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken Penne is pure comfort food with almost no effort. Tender shredded chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and a rich, creamy cheese sauce all come together in one pot. It’s the kind of cozy weeknight dinner the whole family will love and you’ll love that the slow cooker does most of the work.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups penne pasta (dry)
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup diced tomatoes (canned or fresh, drained if very juicy)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup and chicken broth until smooth. Pour the mixture evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Add the diced tomatoes and dry penne pasta on top. Stir gently to combine, making sure the pasta is mostly submerged in liquid for even cooking.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or on HIGH for 2–3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender and the pasta is al dente.
- Remove the chicken breasts to a cutting board and shred them with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Add the shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Stir until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve hot, topped with chopped fresh parsley for garnish.
Notes
- If your slow cooker runs hot, check the pasta early to avoid overcooking.
- If the mixture looks too thick at the end, stir in a splash of warm chicken broth or milk to loosen the sauce.
- For extra flavor, add a small handful of grated Parmesan cheese along with the cheddar and mozzarella.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4–5 hours on LOW (or 2–3 hours on HIGH)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g (approx.)
- Sodium: 650 mg (approx.)
- Fat: 20 g (approx.)
- Saturated Fat: 10 g (approx.)
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g (approx.)
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g (approx.)
- Fiber: 2 g (approx.)
- Protein: 28 g (approx.)
- Cholesterol: 95 mg (approx.)
Keywords: slow cooker cheesy chicken penne, crockpot chicken pasta, creamy chicken penne, easy slow cooker dinner