I recently prepared an Italian Chicken Pasta that captivated me with its rich flavors and comforting ingredients. Tender chicken breasts mingle with cream cheese, cream of chicken soup and zesty Italian dressing mix, enriched by a splash of chicken broth. This easy crockpot recipe turned dinner into an enjoyable surprise for my family.
I recently discovered this unbelievable recipe for Crockpot Zesty Italian Chicken Pasta and I just had to share it with you all. I mixed 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts with 8 oz of softened cream cheese, a can of cream of chicken soup, 1 cup chicken broth and a zesty Italian dressing packet to create a delicious, creamy sauce.
The secret really is in letting everything meld together slowly in the crockpot, then tossing in 8 oz of dry pasta, like penne or rotini, right at the end. It’s one of those chicken crockpot recipes easy enough for weeknights even if you’re not a pro in the kitchen.
The flavors are bold and perfectly balanced, turning a simple slow cooker dish into a true Italian chicken pasta masterpiece. Trust me, this one will quickly become a favorite in your dinner rotation.
Why I Like this Recipe
I love this recipe for a bunch of reasons. First, it’s so easy to make – I just toss the chicken in the crockpot, mix up the cream cheese, soup, broth, and Italian dressing mix, and let it cook while I chill. Second, the flavors are awesome – that zesty Italian dressing really kicks things up a notch, and the cream cheese gives it a rich, creamy texture that I can’t get enough of. Third, it’s totally a family meal – I feel good knowing I can make one big dish that’s hearty and filling without spending a ton of time in the kitchen. Lastly, I dig how simple it is to prep; even if I’m not feeling super motivated, I can throw everything together and trust that the crockpot will do its magic.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts: They pack a real punch of protein and are super lean for muscle building.
- 8 oz cream cheese: This gives a rich, creamy texture and introduces healthy fats for a yummy twist.
- 1 can cream of chicken soup: It adds a thick, savory base that’s a bit sweet and mellow in flavor.
- 1 cup chicken broth: A light, flavorful liquid that cooks the pasta evenly and keeps it juicy.
- 1 packet zesty italian dressing mix: Loads the dish with tangy herbs and spices that enliven every bite.
- 8 oz dry pasta: Provides much needed carbohydrates and a hearty texture to make you feel full.
Ingredient Quantities
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened to help it mix in better)
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 packet zesty italian dressing mix
- 8 oz dry pasta (like penne or rotini works great)
How to Make this
1. Grab your crockpot and put in the 4 chicken breasts.
2. In a bowl, mix together the 8 oz of softened cream cheese, the can of cream of chicken soup, 1 cup chicken broth and the Italian dressing packet until they’re well combined.
3. Pour that mixture right over the chicken in the crockpot.
4. Set the crockpot on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours until the chicken is fully cooked.
5. Meanwhile, cook the 8 oz dry pasta (penne or rotini work best) in a pot of boiling water until they are just al dente then drain.
6. Once the chicken is done, use two forks to shred the pieces right in the crockpot.
7. Stir in the cooked pasta into the crockpot with the chicken and sauce.
8. Let everything mix together for a few minutes so the flavors can really blend.
9. Taste the dish and add extra salt or pepper if you need to.
10. Serve hot and enjoy a yummy, easy dinner with your family!
Equipment Needed
1. Crockpot
2. Mixing bowl
3. Spoon or spatula for stirring the mixture
4. Cooking pot to boil water for the pasta
5. Colander for draining the pasta
6. Two forks for shredding the cooked chicken
These are the main items you’ll need for the recipe. Enjoy cookin!
FAQ
Crockpot Zesty Italian Chicken Pasta Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Instead of cream cheese, you can use blended cottage cheese or even ricotta cheese to keep it creamy.
- If you don’t have cream of chicken soup on hand, a good alternative is cream of mushroom soup or make your own cream sauce using a bit of flour and extra chicken broth.
- Chicken broth can be swapped with low-sodium vegetable broth if you’re looking for a lighter flavour or need a substitute.
- For the zesty italian dressing mix, mix together dried basil, oregano, garlic powder, and a pinch of red pepper flakes to create a similar seasoning blend.
- If you run out of penne or rotini, try using fusilli or even small shells as they work just as well with the pasta.
Pro Tips
1. Try letting the chicken sit in the seasoning sauce for a bit before turning on the crockpot so the flavors can really get into the meat, its a simple way to boost the taste.
2. When cookin the pasta, dont leave it boiling for too long. Keep it just al dente since it will cook a little more later when mixed in with the hot sauce.
3. Use room temperature cream cheese instead of cold from the fridge as it mixes more evenly and helps create a smoother sauce.
4. If you like a bit more texture and flavor, add a sprinkle of your fav dried herbs like basil or parsley at the end and mix it in just before serving.
Crockpot Zesty Italian Chicken Pasta Recipe
I recently prepared an Italian Chicken Pasta that captivated me with its rich flavors and comforting ingredients. Tender chicken breasts mingle with cream cheese, cream of chicken soup and zesty Italian dressing mix, enriched by a splash of chicken broth. This easy crockpot recipe turned dinner into an enjoyable surprise for my family.
4
servings
500
kcal
Equipment: 1. Crockpot
2. Mixing bowl
3. Spoon or spatula for stirring the mixture
4. Cooking pot to boil water for the pasta
5. Colander for draining the pasta
6. Two forks for shredding the cooked chicken
These are the main items you’ll need for the recipe. Enjoy cookin!
Ingredients
-
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
-
8 oz cream cheese (softened to help it mix in better)
-
1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
-
1 cup chicken broth
-
1 packet zesty italian dressing mix
-
8 oz dry pasta (like penne or rotini works great)
Directions
- Grab your crockpot and put in the 4 chicken breasts.
- In a bowl, mix together the 8 oz of softened cream cheese, the can of cream of chicken soup, 1 cup chicken broth and the Italian dressing packet until they're well combined.
- Pour that mixture right over the chicken in the crockpot.
- Set the crockpot on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours until the chicken is fully cooked.
- Meanwhile, cook the 8 oz dry pasta (penne or rotini work best) in a pot of boiling water until they are just al dente then drain.
- Once the chicken is done, use two forks to shred the pieces right in the crockpot.
- Stir in the cooked pasta into the crockpot with the chicken and sauce.
- Let everything mix together for a few minutes so the flavors can really blend.
- Taste the dish and add extra salt or pepper if you need to.
- Serve hot and enjoy a yummy, easy dinner with your family!
Notes
- Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 250g
- Total number of serves: 4
- Calories: 500kcal
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Polyunsaturated: 1.5g
- Monounsaturated: 9g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
- Sodium: 800mg
- Potassium: 400mg
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 4g
- Protein: 40g
- Vitamin A: 500IU
- Vitamin C: 2mg
- Calcium: 150mg
- Iron: 2mg
