Name: Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 360 min
Total time: 365 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces Parmesan garlic sauce; 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts; 8 ounces cream cheese (cut into pieces); 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (grated); 10 ounces dry pasta (cooked and drained); 1 parsley (for garnish); 1 red pepper flakes (for garnish)

Oh, I just adore those nights when dinner feels like a hug in a bowl, right? Something rich and creamy that needs almost zero thinking. If you need a serious flavor upgrade on a busy evening, you have to try my absolute favorite, the Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta. Seriously, this entire magnificent meal smells like a gourmet Italian restaurant but takes maybe five minutes of actual work from me.

When I first tested this recipe, I was amazed at how luxurious it tasted for such little effort. The garlic and parmesan melted together into the creamiest sauce — the kind that makes you want seconds immediately. It’s just too good to be this easy!

Why This Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Is a Weeknight Favorite

Honestly, this dish is my secret weapon for surviving hectic weeks. It’s the ultimate in convenience, making it one of the best Dump And Go Crockpot Dinners you’ll ever meet. You toss it in, forget it, and come back to perfection later.

It’s incredibly hands-off. Minimal chopping means minimal cleanup!
The chicken comes out so tender it practically melts when you shred it.
It satisfies that major craving for something cheesy and decadent, perfect for those true Lazy Dinners. If you want to know more about making chicken pasta dishes stretch, check out my ultimate guide right here the ultimate chicken pasta guide.
It freezes beautifully, which is great for lunch the next day if you even have leftovers! See how others are using similar slow cooker magic over here.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Okay, the best part about this whole operation is that the ingredient list is laughably short. You don’t need 20 jars in your spice cabinet for this one! It’s all about quality going into the slow cooker to make that beautiful Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta sauce.

You need two pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts—just toss those right in. Then we’re hitting it with a full 12 ounces of that pre-made Parmesan garlic sauce. Yes, I said pre-made! No shame; that’s how we keep things easy here.

For creaminess, grab 8 ounces of cream cheese, but make sure you cut it up into smaller pieces before you put it in. Those little cubes melt down way faster than one big block, trust me. Then we need half a cup of grated Parmesan cheese to boost that flavor.

The *very* important thing to remember? The pasta! We cook the 10 ounces of dry pasta separately, and you only add it right at the end. If you try to cook it in the slow cooker, you’ll end up with a gluey mess. We want tender chicken and perfectly al dente pasta, not paste!

Garnish Options for Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

This step is totally optional, but seriously, don’t skip it! A sprinkle of fresh parsley really brightens up the color—it looks so much better than just beige sauce. And if you like a little tiny kick to cut through that rich creaminess, hit it with just a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

This is where the magic happens, and let me tell you, it’s nearly foolproof! Forget complicated techniques; we are just adding things in the right order. The beauty of this Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is how simple the layering is, which means more time enjoying your day and less time watching the stove!

Preparing the Slow Cooker Base for Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

First things first, give your slow cooker insert a quick spray with some non-stick cooking spray. We don’t want any sticking, especially with all that delicious cheese waiting to melt! Lay those two beautiful chicken breasts right in the bottom. Then, you’ll just dump that entire jar of parmesan garlic sauce over the chicken. Don’t stir anything yet! Next, scatter those cut-up chunks of cream cheese and the grated Parmesan right on top of the chicken.

Cooking and Shredding the Chicken

Now, seal up that lid. If you’re leaving for the day, set it to low for about 5 to 6 hours. If you’re making this in the evening, high for 3 to 4 hours will do the trick. When you come back, the chicken should be incredibly tender. Take two forks, fish the chicken out—careful, it might be hot!—and shred it up nicely. Then stir all that shredded goodness right back into the melted sauce. Wow, that sauce is amazing!

Finishing Your Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

While the chicken is shredding, get your dry pasta going on the stovetop according to the package directions. Remember to follow those important tips for cooking pasta so it doesn’t get rubbery—you can read my exact rules here! Once the pasta is perfectly cooked and drained, scoop it directly into the slow cooker with the shredded chicken and sauce. Give it one final big stir to make sure every noodle is coated in that luxurious sauce. A quick check to see how Taste of Home handles their easy chicken dishes might give you inspiration, but this recipe is ready to eat!

Tips for the Best Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Results

Even though this Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is super forgiving, I have a few little tricks I learned when I was really trying to nail that restaurant quality right in my slow cooker. Trust me, these small details take it from good to unbelievably crave-worthy.

First up: the cheese! If you can swing it, please, please use freshly grated Parmesan cheese. The pre-grated stuff, you know the kind that comes in the plastic shaker with the green lid? That stuff has anti-caking agents that stop it from melting smoothly. When you’re dealing with a creamy sauce like this, you want that smooth, velvety texture, not little grainy bits.

My biggest fear when making cheesy slow cooker meals is that the sauce splits—you know, where the fat separates from the milk solids? To stop that nightmare from happening with this recipe, make sure you cut that cream cheese into cubes. Those smaller pieces melt evenly into the sauce base before the heat gets too intense. Also, when you shred the chicken, stir it in gently toward the very end.

If you are ever having issues with texture in baked goods, like my famous scones, I always recommend checking your ingredient temperatures. While it’s less crucial here, using room temperature cream cheese helps it incorporate better! For more general baking wisdom you can apply everywhere, check out my tips for perfect scones—sometimes the logic crosses over!

Making Crockpot Dishes Healthier

I know sometimes we want our comfort food to be a little kinder on the waistline, right? That’s totally fine! We can absolutely tweak Crockpot Dishes to make them fit into your rotation of Healthy Dinner Recipes without sacrificing that creamy taste we love.

The key here is smart swapping. Instead of using full-fat cream cheese throughout the entire thing, try using Neufchâtel cheese or a light cream cheese alternative. It melts down nearly the same way but cuts back on saturated fat significantly. You won’t even notice the difference once it’s mingling with all that garlic and Parmesan!

Another great move for making these Healthy Crockpot Meals better is in the pasta department. Since the pasta is cooked separately anyway, you have total freedom! Swapping standard white pasta for whole wheat pasta is an easy win for added fiber that keeps you feeling full longer. Or, hey, if you’re doing low-carb, use spiralized zucchini or broccoli florets instead of pasta entirely! They soak up that gorgeous sauce beautifully.

If you’re interested in how other ingredients can boost nutrition, you should peek at the awesome benefits you get when you swap in things like avocado in your chicken salad recipes—it’s amazing what a little healthy fat swap can do! You can read more about healthy avocado swaps here. Just remember, even small changes count when leaning into those Slow Cook Recipes!

Storage and Reheating Your Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

If you manage to have any of this glorious Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta leftover—which, honestly, kudos to you for having such good portion control—storing it is a breeze! But you have to treat creamy pasta right when you save it, or it ends up dry and sad the next day, and we absolutely do not want that.

The absolute best practice is to cool any leftovers down quickly once the meal is over. Pop the mixture of chicken, sauce, and pasta into a shallow, airtight container. Shallow works best because it cools the food down faster and prevents bacteria growth. Store it in the fridge, and it should keep beautifully for about three to four days. I usually check mine before the four-day mark, just to be safe.

Now, reheating is where people mess up creamy sauces! If you just microwave a clump of cold pasta, it’s going to seize up and get stiff—not creamy. You need moisture to bring it back to life.

My secret weapon when reheating is always to add a splash of liquid before I even put it in the microwave. If you’re reheating a single serving, start with just a tablespoon of milk or, even better, some low-sodium chicken broth. Heat it slowly in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. The liquid absorbs into that thick sauce and loosens it right back up!

If you’re heating up a larger batch on the stovetop? That’s my preferred method! Put the pasta mixture into a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add about a quarter cup of broth or milk for every two cups of leftovers you are heating. Stir constantly until it’s gently simmering and creamy again. It takes just a few minutes, and your amazing Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta tastes as good as the first night!

Frequently Asked Questions About Crockpot Recipes For Dinner

We get asked so many great questions about these super easy Crockpot Recipes For Dinner, especially when it comes to substitutions and additions. Slow cooking is fantastic because it’s so flexible, but sometimes you need clear guidance to keep that creamy texture winning. Here are some of the most common things folks ask when planning their Slow Cook Recipes throughout the week.

Can I add vegetables to my Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta?

Oh, absolutely! I love bulking these meals up because it makes them even better for leftovers. When it comes to adding veggies to your Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta, you just need to be smart about timing since everything cooks for hours. Root vegetables like carrots or potatoes need a big head start—I toss those in at the very beginning with the chicken.

For quick-cooking veggies like spinach, mushrooms, or frozen peas, wait until the last 30 minutes of cooking—right before you shred the chicken. If you put spinach in for six hours, it just disappears! Mushrooms should also go in toward the end so they don’t get too slimy. They absorb all that garlicky sauce beautifully.

What is the best type of pasta for this slow cook recipe?

This is a super important question, and the answer always comes back to this: cook the pasta separately! If you try to boil the pasta right in the slow cooker juices, you’ll end up with an unusable brick of starch that breaks down horribly. That’s definitely not something we count on when making great Crockpot Dishes.

For the best texture, you want a sturdy, short pasta. Think penne, rotini, farfalle (bowtie pasta), or rigatoni. These shapes are awesome because they hold onto that thick sauce on the outside and capture a little bit of the creaminess inside their tubes or folds. As I mentioned before, cook it until it’s just a touch *underdone*—maybe a minute shy of al dente. When you stir it into the hot sauce in the crockpot, residual heat will finish the job perfectly without making it mushy later on!

If you love trying out different, hearty slow cooker recipes, you should check out my favorite recipe for soup that cooks all day long Italian Wedding Soup—it’s packed with goodness and great for a cozy evening.

Serving Suggestions for This Comforting Crockpot Dish

Okay, so you’ve successfully managed to pull off this ridiculously creamy, garlic-packed dinner, and now you’re wondering what to put next to it! Because this Crockpot Dish is so rich and indulgent—I mean, we’re talking cream cheese and Parmesan bathing tender chicken—you really want sides that offer a little contrast. Think bright, fresh, or crusty!

You absolutely need something green and slightly acidic to cut through all that glorious fat and richness. My top recommendation is always a super simple side salad. Nothing fancy, just crisp lettuce, maybe some thinly sliced red onion, and a bright vinaigrette. If you want a recipe that’s easy to throw together, you should look at my quick cucumber tomato salad; it’s ready in minutes and offers the perfect textural break.

And you cannot serve a sauce this good without a tool to scoop up every last bit! Bread is non-negotiable here. I’m partial to serving this with thick slices of garlic bread, of course, but even just a loaf of crusty Italian or French bread for dipping works wonders. Just tear off a piece, use it to mop the edges of your bowl clean, and you’ll seriously understand why this recipe is permanently in my rotation.

If you want to bulk it up a little more without adding more heavy starches, a side of roasted green beans or lightly steamed broccoli is perfect. A little salt, pepper, and maybe a squeeze of lemon juice keeps them vibrant and fresh alongside all that slow-cooked comfort.

Estimated Nutritional Profile for Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Now, let’s talk numbers. Since this is such a rich and decadent meal, you probably already know it’s going to clock in a bit heavier than, say, a plain grilled chicken breast. But that’s okay! We eat this for comfort, and knowing the macros helps us budget for our next serving.

I ran the numbers based on using standard ingredients—regular cream cheese and full-fat sauce—divided evenly across the six planned servings. Remember, these numbers fluctuate wildly based on the specific brands of jarred sauce and cheese you choose to use in your Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta!

Here is what you can generally expect per serving (before adding the final pasta weight, which can vary based on brand):

Calories: Roughly 550–620 kcal
Total Fat: 30g – 38g (That creamy texture adds up!)
Protein: 45g – 50g (That chicken gives you a great boost!)
Carbohydrates: 30g – 40g (Depending heavily on the pasta type used)

This means it stacks up wonderfully as a hearty, flavor-packed meal, perfect for those chilly evenings when you need something satisfying, which is why it’s one of my favorite Fall Dinner Recipes. If you look at the serving size for something satisfying like my ground beef recipes for dinner, this comes out right on top for pure comfort factor.

Disclaimer time! Because we are using store-bought sauces where the exact ingredients aren’t always standardized, and because everyone measures cheese slightly differently (I know I do!), please view this table as a reliable estimate only. If you are tracking macros very closely, you might want to manually enter the specific labels you buy into your tracking app!

Share Your Experience with This Recipe

Now that you’ve been introduced to the easiest, creamiest comfort food imaginable, I really, truly want to hear from you! Cooking is meant to be shared, and knowing how this Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta worked out in your own kitchen makes my whole day.

Did you give this recipe a try last night? Please take a second—I promise it won’t take nearly as long as grating those carrots for a cake!—to drop a rating right below. Stars are my favorite way to see quickly if the recipe is a winner in your house!

I also love seeing your beautiful results! If you snap a picture of your family enjoying this dish, please share it on social media and tag me. Seeing your creamy bowls piled high is the best inspiration for me to keep tinkering and sharing more of these super simple, ultra-satisfying meals.

And if you run into any weird hiccups, or if you tried a substitution that worked like a charm? Don’t keep that secret to yourself! Head over to my contact page here to send me an email directly, or just drop a detailed comment below. I read every single one, and I love answering all your questions about making the best Crockpot Dishes!

Happy slow cooking, friends! I hope this becomes a new staple for your busy weeknights.