Description

This Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Pasta delivers all the cozy, cheesy comfort of classic chicken parm with almost no effort. The chicken simmers in marinara until it’s fall-apart tender, then gets tossed with penne and melty mozzarella for a rich, family-friendly dinner. It’s perfect for busy weeknights, potlucks, or anytime you’re craving hearty Italian-style comfort food without hovering over the stove.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
8 ounces penne pasta (about 2 1/2 cups dry)
1 cup chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh basil leaves, chopped or torn, for garnish

Instructions

Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker in a single layer. Season both sides with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
Pour the marinara sauce and chicken broth evenly over the chicken, making sure the chicken is fully covered in liquid and sauce.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and very tender.
Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board. Shred using two forks into bite‑size pieces, then return the shredded chicken and any juices back to the slow cooker and stir to combine with the sauce.
Add the dry penne pasta to the slow cooker, stirring well so the pasta is fully coated and mostly submerged in the sauce. Cover and cook on HIGH for 20–30 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the pasta is al dente.
Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the shredded mozzarella cheese until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the top. Cover for 3–5 minutes to let it melt slightly, then garnish with fresh basil just before serving.

Notes

For saucier pasta, add an extra 1/2 cup of broth when adding the penne.
Every slow cooker heats a bit differently; check the pasta at 20 minutes and continue cooking in 5‑minute increments as needed.
Use a thick, flavorful marinara you enjoy, since it’s the base of the sauce.
If the sauce seems too thick at the end, stir in a splash of warm broth or milk to loosen it.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
Calories: 450 kcal
Sugar: 7 g (estimated, will vary by marinara)
Sodium: 780 mg (estimated, using standard marinara and broth)
Fat: 14 g
Saturated Fat: 6 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 48 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 30 g
Cholesterol: 90 mg

Keywords: slow cooker chicken parmesan pasta, crockpot chicken parmesan pasta, creamy chicken pasta, easy slow cooker dinner, weeknight family meal