When you are in the mood for a comforting pasta dinner that doesn’t require a lot of effort, slow cooker chicken alfredo pasta with cream cheese is perfect! This simple but flavorful recipe will have your family begging for seconds. The entire dish is cooked right in your CrockPot, making it the perfect weeknight meal. Give this recipe a try - it is sure to become a family favorite.
When it comes to prepping an easy family meal without a lot of fuss, my slow cooker is a kitchen superstar.
From comforting mains like Crockpot chicken pot pie and crockpot ravioli lasagna to simple sides like slow cooker rice, crockpot mashed potatoes, and slow cooker sweet potatoes, my trusty slow cooker comes through for me time and again.
When I need a bowl of comfort, this crock pot chicken alfredo always hits the spot.
Serve this recipe with a simple green salad and bread machine dinner rolls or focaccia bread.
Ingredients Needed
Let's Talk Ingredients
I usually go with boneless chicken breasts for Crockpot chicken Alfredo. Thighs work if you prefer them, but when I tested it, I found that the lightness from the breast provided a bit more balance.
Make sure you use heavy cream, or at least half-and-half, instead of milk. You will also want to use full-fat cream cheese. Lower-fat dairy can separate in the slow cooker.
Always grate your own Parmesan, or buy refrigerated rather than canned.
I love this with fettuccine, but you can use whatever pasta you like—just keep an eye on the cooking time if you switch it up.
Step by Step
For the full recipe with measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Cooking Your Pasta Separately
Cooking pasta in the slow cooker is a great time-saving option, but there is an ever-so-slight deterioration in the texture of the pasta.
If you want to make alfredo sauce with cream cheese and chicken in your crockpot and cook the pasta on the stove, you can!
I have tested this extensively, and we find that this is best if you follow the recipe as directed but reduce the broth by 1 cup. You can cook your pasta on the stove and then add it to your crockpot cream cheese alfredo right before serving.
Tips & Tricks
- Stir the pasta several times as it cooks to prevent sticking. The rest of this recipe can be hands-off, but this is a must. (Just remember, don't leave the lid off your slow cooker for too long, or it can greatly impact the cooking time!)
- If you'd like a slightly thicker sauce, simply add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons of cold water to your slow cooker before adding the noodles. Stir until incorporated. (Just remember that the noodles need something to cook in, and the sauce will thicken up quite a bit!)
- Add sauteed mushrooms, spinach, broccoli florets, kale, carrots, or baby peas to mix things up. Chopped bacon is also a nice addition to slow cooker alfredo.
Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta with Cream Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 2 cups chicken broth use 1 cup if cooking the pasta seperately
- 8 ounces cream cheese cubed
- ½ cup unsalted butter cubed
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 16 ounces fettuccine noodles
Instructions
- Place the chicken, heavy cream, chicken broth, cream cheese, butter, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in your slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours, or low for 6 to 8 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker. Shred with forks or cube the chicken.
- Whisk the parmesan cheese into the sauce.
- Place the noodles in your slow cooker. They will fit in most slow cookers, but if they do not fit in yours you can break them in half. Use a spoon to make sure the noodles are submerged in the liquid. (It will be very saucy at this point - that is ok!)
- Add the chicken on top of the pasta.
- Cook on high for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking. Test for doneness, and cook another 15 minutes if needed.
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