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Italian Chicken Pasta

This Italian Chicken Pasta Crockpot recipe is a hearty, creamy, and effortless dinner that combines chicken, Italian dressing, cream cheese, and pasta all cooked in a slow cooker.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 4 pieces chicken breasts Boneless, skinless preferred
  • 1 bottle Italian dressing Restaurant-style recommended
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 package cream cheese Full-fat or reduced-fat depending on preference
  • 1 package broccoli Microwave as per package directions
  • 1 box rotini or penne pasta
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning Generously sprinkle
  • 1 package Italian blend shredded cheese For topping
  • to taste salt and pepper

Method
 

Prep Work
  1. Microwave your broccoli according to the package directions.
  2. Place chicken breasts into the slow cooker and season with salt and pepper.
Sauce Preparation
  1. Pour the entire bottle of Italian dressing into a mixing bowl.
  2. Refill the dressing bottle with one cup of chicken broth, close the lid, and shake well before adding it to the bowl.
  3. Pour the sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker.
Combine Ingredients
  1. Chop the broccoli into bite-sized pieces and add to the slow cooker.
  2. Place the cream cheese in the center and sprinkle Italian seasoning over the top.
Cooking
  1. Set the slow cooker to low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.
  2. About 30 minutes before the cooking time is up, boil your pasta until slightly al dente, then drain.
Final Steps
  1. Remove the chicken breasts, shred them, and return to the slow cooker along with the drained pasta.
  2. Stir everything together and top with shredded Italian blend cheese.
  3. Switch to the warm setting for an additional 20 to 30 minutes until the cheese is melted.
  4. Serve directly from the slow cooker and enjoy.

Notes

Great tips for best results: Cook pasta slightly underdone to avoid mushiness. Try different vegetables as alternatives, and consider using Olive Garden dressing for heightened flavor. Leftovers store well and can be frozen without pasta.