Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo (Printable Version)

Tender chicken and pasta combined with creamy Alfredo sauce in a hands-off slow cooker dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meats

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

→ Pasta

02 - 12 oz uncooked penne or rigatoni pasta

→ Dairy

03 - 2 cups heavy cream
04 - 1 cup whole milk
05 - 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces
08 - 4 oz cream cheese, cubed

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

09 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 cup frozen peas (optional)

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 tsp salt
12 - 0.5 tsp black pepper
13 - 0.5 tsp dried Italian herbs
14 - 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Arrange chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper, Italian herbs, and nutmeg; add minced garlic.
03 - Pour in heavy cream and whole milk. Distribute butter and cream cheese cubes evenly over the chicken.
04 - Cover and cook on LOW for 3 hours until chicken is fully cooked and easily shredded.
05 - Remove chicken from slow cooker, shred with two forks, and return shredded meat to the slow cooker.
06 - Stir in uncooked pasta, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, and peas if desired, mixing thoroughly.
07 - Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until pasta is tender and sauce is creamy.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh chopped parsley if using.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's genuinely hands-off cooking that still tastes like you spent hours at the stove.
  • You get that restaurant-quality creamy Alfredo without the stress of balancing a hot pan and careful timing.
  • One slow cooker does all the work, which means minimal dishes and maximum peace of mind.
02 -
  • Never pre-cook the pasta—this isn't a mistake, it's how the dish gets its signature creamy texture, as the raw pasta absorbs the sauce while cooking.
  • If you use bone-in thighs instead of boneless chicken, add an extra 30 minutes to the initial cooking time and watch them carefully so they don't fall apart.
  • The sauce will seem a little thin when you stir in the pasta, but it thickens as the pasta absorbs liquid; trust the process and don't add more cream.
03 -
  • If your slow cooker runs hot, start checking the chicken at 2.5 hours instead of waiting the full 3 to avoid it becoming too soft.
  • Taste the finished dish before serving and adjust seasoning with a pinch of salt or pepper—slow cooking can sometimes mute flavors, so trust your palate.
  • Make extra on purpose so you have leftovers; this actually tastes better the next day after the flavors settle and meld together.
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