Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a delicious and easy recipe that is great any night of the week. The chicken slowly cooks in a bold and creamy sauce, and then is served with pasta to make a complete meal. If you want something simple to make that will still please the whole family—including picky eaters—this one is a must-try!
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The secret is the Buffalo Wild Wings garlic parmesan sauce. It's rich, garlicky, cheesy, AND bold. It adds so much flavor to the chicken breasts. I also include cream cheese and parmesan to make it extra creamy and sharp. It’s no surprise that this was a viral recipe!
If you like crockpot dinner recipes, you will love this Crockpot Ranch Chicken and Potatoes, Crock Pot Pork Chops and Potatoes, Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken, Crockpot Angel Chicken and my Ham and Rice Casserole.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- There are just 5 basic ingredients. You only need chicken, pasta, cheese, and garlic sauce. It doesn’t get any easier.
- The ingredients are inexpensive. If you’re looking to feed the family on a tight budget, this is a great one to fill you up.
- It’s easy to prepare. Preparing the ingredients to go into the crockpot takes just a few minutes. Then, you cook the pasta and it’s ready to eat.
Ingredients
You only need 5 items to create one of the best crockpot chicken pasta recipes ever. This chicken with garlic parmesan sauce uses shortcuts and easy-to-find ingredients to impart tons of flavor into a simple dish.
- Chicken breasts: I use boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. I find them the easiest to shred. Feel free to use chicken thighs if you prefer, but just ensure they are properly cooked.
- Garlic parmesan sauce: Most of the flavor in this recipe comes from the Buffalo Wild Wings garlic parmesan sauce. You will find it in the condiment aisle at the grocery store. Try this Copycat Garlic Parmesan Sauce if you want to make it yourself.
- Cream cheese: This adds the perfect creamy texture and a slightly tangy flavor. It also provides great depth to the overall dish. I don’t typically soften it—I just cut it into cubes straight from the refrigerator!
- Rotini pasta: This is my favorite variety of pasta for this recipe, but you can use any kind you like! Penne, ziti, and farfalle make lovely substitutes.
- Parmesan cheese: To add extra sharp flavor and creaminess, parmesan cheese is perfect. Reserve extra to sprinkle on your serving, too.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Add veggies: Stir in a small bag of frozen mixed veggies towards the end of the cooking process to add more texture.
- Ranch: Try adding ranch seasoning and sour cream to the dish for a stronger herb flavor.
- Sundried tomato: Chopped sundried tomatoes add a bright and tangy flavor, as well as texture for a new and fun version.
How to Make Parmesan Garlic Chicken Pasta in the Crockpot
Here are the steps needed to prepare your crockpot chicken garlic parmesan pasta. Spray the bottom of your slow cooker generously with nonstick cooking spray to ensure the chicken doesn’t stick to the bottom.
Step 1: Add the chicken and season it. Place the chicken breasts into the bottom of the crockpot. Then, sprinkle salt and pepper on them if you like. You don’t need a lot!
Step 2: Pour in the sauce and cook. Pour the whole bottle of Buffalo Wild Wings garlic parmesan sauce on top. Then, add the cubes of cream cheese. Pop the lid on, and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until the chicken is perfectly tender.
Step 3: Prepare the rotini. Boil water and cook the rotini according to the package directions about 15 minutes before the slow cooker is finished. Drain it and reserve a ½ cup of pasta water.
Step 4: Shred the chicken. Remove the chicken breasts from the pot and shred them with two forks.
Step 5: Stir the sauce. Whisk the sauce to ensure the cream cheese is fully melted and combined.
Step 6: Add the chicken. Put the shredded chicken back in and stir to coat it in the sauce.
Step 7: Fold in pasta. Carefully fold in the cooked pasta and add pasta water if needed. Top it with shredded parmesan and parsley. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Add more sauce when reheating. For best results, add some extra garlic parmesan sauce when reheating leftovers to ensure they’re not too dry. If you don’t have any, try a dash of heavy cream instead.
- Use freshly shredded parmesan. Freshly shredded cheese is free of anti-caking agents so it melts better, resulting in a smoother sauce.
- Serve the chicken breasts whole. If you don’t want shredded chicken, leave them whole and then slice them when serving.
If you love recipes like this cheesy slow cooker chicken pasta, you may also enjoy this creamy Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze them for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: This is best reheated in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes for one portion. Cover with a damp paper towel to add moisture to the chicken and pasta. You can also heat in a skillet on the stove. Add a splash of milk or cream if it seems dry.
- Make Ahead: I like to add the ingredients to the slow cooker a few hours early and put it in the refrigerator. It also helps to cook the pasta ahead of time. Toss it with olive oil so it doesn’t get sticky.
Serving Suggestions
- A veggie side dish is perfect to pair with this crockpot chicken and pasta. Roasted broccoli and carrots and oven asparagus are some of my favorites.
- Add more cheese and enjoy this cheesy sauteed garlic spinach as a side.
- Make some Cheesecake Factory brown bread or air fryer frozen biscuits to dip in the extra garlic parm sauce.
Recipe FAQs
I like to reserve some pasta water and add it to thin the sauce. You can also use a little heavy cream or milk instead.
Sure! Add the ingredients to the Instant Pot and cook it on high pressure for about 15-20 minutes. Shred the chicken and add the cooked pasta before serving.
I don’t recommend doing so. It doesn’t cook at the same rate and needs a lot of extra liquid to be cooked properly. The recipe comes out better if you cook it separately.
More Delicious Crockpot Pasta Recipes
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section, I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 12 ounces bottle Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Sauce or use ¾ cup of this homemade garlic parmesan sauce
- 8 ounces cream cheese cubed
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- ½ cup reserved pasta water if needed
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker by coating it with a light layer of cooking spray.
- Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker and season lightly with salt and pepper if desired.
- Pour the entire bottle of Garlic Parmesan sauce over the chicken, then top with cubed cream cheese.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until the chicken is tender and easily shreddable.
- About 15 minutes before serving, cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water before draining.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it. Whisk the cream cheese into the sauce until smooth and fully melted.
- Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker, stirring to coat it in the sauce.
- Stir in the cooked pasta, adding reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve hot, garnished with shredded parmesan and fresh parsley.
Video
Notes
- Store this easy garlic parmesan chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Use freshly grated parmesan because it melts better than prepackaged (especially if you want to add extra cheese).
- You can use chicken thighs if you prefer, but just ensure they are properly cooked.
Nutrition
This post was originally published September 2016. It's been updated with new content and images.
Anne V says
I hosted a dinner for few friends last night and this is the pasta I served, my first time to make it and yet all the guest were so impressed including me! It was sooo good that all of them even took a portion home ?... im saving this recipe and will be making to any pot luck I will be invited in ?... thank you! and yes im sharing the link to my friends!
Karin and Ken says
I can’t thank you enough for spreading the word! You truly made my day. This recipe is a personal favorite and I’m so happy you enjoy this recipe as well! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! All the best to you. Karin