Description
This Crockpot Tuscan Chicken Pasta is a creamy, comforting slow-cooker meal featuring tender chicken breasts cooked with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, spinach, and Italian seasonings. The dish is finished with Parmesan cheese and perfectly cooked pasta for an easy yet flavorful dinner that requires minimal hands-on time.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Dairy
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Vegetables and Pasta
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped if large leaves
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or your favorite shape)
- 1–1½ cups additional broth or water (as needed to cook the pasta at the end)
Instructions
- Prep the ingredients: Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Chop the sun-dried tomatoes, mince the garlic, grate the Parmesan if using a block, and roughly chop the spinach if the leaves are large. If your sun-dried tomatoes are oil-packed, squeeze off excess oil on a paper towel to avoid adding extra oil to the crockpot.
- Layer everything into the crockpot: Place the seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker. Scatter the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and minced garlic over the chicken. Pour the chicken broth and heavy cream on top. Evenly sprinkle the Italian seasoning and then add the grated Parmesan over everything. Tuck the spinach around the chicken and gently stir the top just to distribute garlic and sun-dried tomatoes without fully mixing the chicken into the liquid.
- Slow cook the chicken: Set the crockpot to LOW and cook for 4–5 hours or HIGH for 2½–3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and can be shredded easily with two forks. Avoid opening the lid frequently to maintain temperature and cooking time. If chicken pieces are thin, start checking for doneness 30 minutes early to prevent overcooking.
- Shred the chicken and finish the sauce: Remove the chicken to a cutting board and shred with two forks or chop into bite-sized pieces. Stir the shredded chicken back into the crockpot to coat with the creamy sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. If the sauce is too thick, add up to ½ cup more chicken broth. If sauce has separated, whisk in a splash of extra cream or a cornstarch slurry to bring it back together.
- Cook the pasta (two options):
Option A (recommended) – Cook pasta separately in boiling salted water for 1–2 minutes less than package directions, then drain reserving 1 cup pasta water. Add pasta to crockpot and stir gently. Thin the sauce with reserved pasta water if needed.
Option B – Add dry pasta directly to the crockpot along with 1–1½ cups extra broth or water, stir, set to HIGH, and cook 20–30 minutes stirring every 5–10 minutes until pasta is al dente. Be aware crockpot-cooked pasta can become soft faster, so check often. - Finish and serve: Once pasta is combined and sauce is creamy, stir in an extra handful of fresh spinach to wilt quickly. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan and let the dish sit for 2–3 minutes so the sauce thickens slightly. Serve hot with extra grated Parmesan and fresh black pepper. Optionally, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or torn basil leaves before serving to brighten the flavors.
Notes
- Cooking pasta separately is recommended for best texture and to avoid overly soft pasta.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for best melting and flavor.
- Do not open the crockpot lid frequently during cooking to maintain heat and reduce cooking time.
- If sauce separates after slow cooking, a splash of cream or cornstarch slurry can bring it back together.
- Adding fresh lemon juice or basil before serving enhances and balances the creamy dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4–5 hours on LOW or 2½–3 hours on HIGH plus 10–15 minutes for pasta
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Tuscan chicken pasta, crockpot chicken recipe, creamy chicken pasta, slow cooker dinner, sun-dried tomato chicken, easy chicken pasta, comfort food
