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This Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken with pasta is made with only 4 ingredients and is a tried and true family favorite. Made with chicken, cream cheese, Italian dressing, and pasta, this creamy crockpot chicken is luscious and rich, and perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
For more crockpot chicken recipes, try Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs, BBQ Chicken Drumsticks in the Slow Cooker, and Crockpot Chicken Tacos Recipe.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Creamy Italian Chicken
Just 4 Ingredients! Four super pantry simple ingredients are all you need for an easy creamy crockpot chicken dinner.
Creamy and Flavorful – There is a ton of flavor brought to the table in the form of Italian salad dressing and cream cheese.
It doesn’t take all day – Cooking chicken in the slow cooker can be tricky because the chicken can easily dry out. Not with this recipe! Cook for 2-3 hours on HIGH or 3-4 hours on LOW and you’ll have a super tender, moist, and creamy chicken dinner!
Ingredients for Creamy Italian Chicken
- Chicken Breasts – boneless, skinless chicken breast is the best option for this recipe. I don’t recommend chicken thighs because they can get too greasy, but you can use them if you prefer.
- Italian Dressing – Use your favorite bottled dressing here, but the best I’ve used is Olive Garden’s Italian dressing. It’s creamy, cheesy, and tangy, which blends perfectly with the cream cheese.
- Cream Cheese – Use full fat, block style cream cheese for the best results.
- Parmesan Cheese – Mix in a bunch of freshly shredded Parm at the end, and grate some on top as a garnish.
- Pasta – My family loves this as a pasta dish, but you can also serve it over rice.
How To Make Creamy Italian Crockpot Chicken
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and place in the slow cooker. Cover with the Italian dressing and set the block of cream cheese on top. Cover and cook for about 3 hours on high and 4 hours on low.
- Shred chicken in the slow cooker and stir in parmesan cheese.
- Stir in cooked pasta, or serve over cooked rice.
Serving Suggestions
My family loves this creamy chicken served with penne pasta, but you could serve it with any pasta that you like. Or, serve it over steamed rice.
You don’t need to go crazy with side dishes, a simple green salad or some Roasted Broccolini are the perfect accompaniment.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave at 50% power. Add a splash of milk if it seems dry.
- When cooking chicken in the slow cooker, it’s easy to overcook. I always keep my digital meat thermometer so I know just when it’s cooked to 165 degrees F.
- Make sure to salt your water when cooking the rice or pasta.
More Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes
- Crockpot Orange Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Stew
- Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Crockpot BBQ Chicken
- Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Mushroom Chicken
- Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
Creamy Crockpot Italian Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
- 16 ounces bottled Italian salad dressing
- 8 ounces cream cheese full fat, brick style
- 1 cup freshly grated or shredded Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
- 1 pound penne pasta
- Fresh minced parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Place the chicken breast in the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour the italian dressing over the chicken and top with a block of cream cheese. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 ½ to 3 hours or on LOW for 4-5 hours.
- Shred chicken in the slow cooker and stir in parmesan cheese.
- Boil a pot of water, salt it, and cook pasta to al dente according to package directions. Drain and combine with the chicken in the slow cooker. Garnish with fresh minced parsley freshly grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
Does this freeze well?
Not likely because of the cream cheese. The texture would be less than desirable upon defrosting.
I have a question about the calories. Is it 832 calories for 1 serving?
Yes, it is. It’s also an approximation and will differ based on the actual ingredients used. For example, you could use a lite Italian dressing or a lowfat cream cheese.
Looks delish 😋
It is Michelle! Let us know here in the comments if you give it a try. Thanks for stopping by.
This recipe was sooo good and soooooo easy! I used Wishbone Italian. The taste was a little strong, so I will definitely make it again trying Olive Garden dressing. I might add more Parmesan too, just to try to tone down the Italian a little. I cut boneless chicken breasts in half, which made cooking time fast and shredding so easy. Keep the recipes coming…we love every one we’ve tried!
That’s awesome Barbara! Thank you so much for your feedback.