This Crockpot Chicken Alfredo recipe comes together in one pot and is perfect for busy days when you need a filling, tasty dinner, but don’t have time to tend to it over a hot stove. You only need a handful of ingredients and your handy dandy slow cooker to make this at home!
Love crockpot recipes? Then you need to try my Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken and my Crockpot Mexican Beef recipes!
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Homemade Chicken Alfredo (But in Your Crockpot!)
Chicken Alfredo is a takeout staple I knew I had to learn how to make at home. And I did! But I wanted to take this recipe a step further to make it more convenient. I knew there had to be a way to set it and forget it in my Crockpot for those busy days when I can’t (or don’t want to) stand over a hot stove babysitting a dish. I’m proud to say this easy Homemade Chicken Alfredo recipe meets that criteria! It’s delicious, filling, and simple to throw together any night of the week.
I like serving heavy pasta dishes with light sides, like my Berry Spinach Salad or my Italian Chopped Salad. Pairs great with white wine or a light cocktail!
Looking for more chicken recipes? Then give my chicken shawarma recipe a try!
ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs (Can swap for boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders, if preferred.)
- Heavy cream (Can swap for half and half or whole milk, if desired.)
- Low-sodium chicken broth
- Cubed cream cheese (Critical for creaminess, but can use reduced fat, if preferred.)
- Cubed unsalted butter
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Italian seasoning
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh chopped parsley
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
How To Make Crockpot Chicken Alfredo
- To a crockpot, add all of the ingredients except the dry pasta — chicken thighs, heavy cream, chicken broth, cream cheese, butter and seasonings. Cook on HIGH for 2 hours, or until chicken is tender and fully cooked.
- Remove chicken from the slow cooker, and shred. Return back to the slow cooker along with the pasta and parmesan cheese. Cook on HIGH for 30 minutes, or until noodles are tender.
- Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Serve immediately with fresh chopped parsley and extra parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Pro Tip: If you have the time brown your chicken thighs in a pan or in your slow cooker set to HIGH before adding remaining ingredients to give it a nice crust and release its juices for more chicken flavor.
Storage, Reheating, and Freezing Instructions
- Store cooled leftover chicken Alfredo in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze completely cooled and cooked Alfredo in a freezer-safe container. Even better if it’s oven-safe, like an aluminum baking dish, to make reheating easier.
- Reheat frozen Chicken Alfredo in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 60-90 minutes, covered, until bubbling and warmed through. Reheat thawed pasta for 30-60 minutes until warmed through. Remove lid for the last 15-30 minutes and sprinkle with mozzarella and/or parmesan cheese to let it brown. You may need to add a splash of cream or milk to the pasta to keep it from drying out.
Variations
- Mix in some greens like chopped spinach or kale! Just add it in after the pasta has cooked so it doesn’t completely fall apart.
- Change up your pasta for a variety of textures! Chickpea pasta, fettuccini, and bow ties are great with Alfredo.
- Swap that chicken for another lean protein like blackened salmon!
- Add more veggies like peas and diced carrots, or even small or chopped broccoli florets!
- Add some chopped bacon or pancetta! Bonus points for cooking your chicken in the same pan, or cooking both in your crockpot insert. Talk about flavor!
what to serve with crockpot chicken alfredo
2 hours 15 minutes- 2 hours 50 minutes
- 13 minutes
- 30 minutes
- 1 hour
- 40 minutes
More Slow Cooker Pasta Recipes to Try
products i used
Crockpot Chicken Alfredo
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 pound uncooked ziti pasta
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- fresh chopped parsley for serving
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add chicken thighs, heavy cream, chicken broth, cream cheese, butter and seasonings to a crockpot. Cook on HIGH for 2 hours or until chicken is tender and fully cooked.
- Remove chicken from the slow cooker and shred. Return back to the slow cooker along with the pasta and parmesan cheese. Cook on HIGH for 30 minutes or until noodles are tender.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately with fresh chopped parsley and extra parmesan cheese for serving, if desired.
Nutrition Information
Did you make this?
I’d love to hear your feedback! Leave a review and make sure to share your pictures on social media! Don’t forget to follow @thechefsavvy.
Susan
How much pasta did you use?
Kelley Simmons
Hi Susan!
Sorry about that! I used 1 pound of uncooked ziti pasta. I added it to the recipe card. Thanks for pointing that out to me.
Kelley
Tailynn Contreras
Is the pasta cooked when you add it to the crockpot?
Kelley Simmons
Hi Tailynn!
No the pasta is uncooked when it gets added to the crockpot. If you want to speed up the process you can always boil the pasta separately if you prefer. Otherwise it will take about 30 minutes on high in the crockpot to cook.
Thanks!
Kelley
Cheryl
I cooked the Crockpot Chicken Alfredo for my family and they loved it!
Kelley Simmons
Hi Cheryl!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing.
Kelley
Paul Mayte
Can I add a package of Frozen broccoli to this
Kelley Simmons
Hi Paul,
Yes frozen broccoli can be added to this. I would add it when you add in the noodles.
Thanks and enjoy!
Kelley
Brian S Wilburn
If you didn’t want chicken at all just pasta would you just add the noodle after and hour after putting other ingredients in
Kelley Simmons
Hi Brian,
Yes I think that’s a good idea. I would cook the sauce for about an hour then add in the pasta and cook until tender.
Thanks & Enjoy!
Kelley
Christine M Shambaugh
Very delicious extremely tasty þender chicken. You must try now.
Alyssa
Two questions:
Do you use frozen or fresh chicken thighs? And can you use linguini or spaghetti instead of ziti pasta?
Kelley Simmons
Hi Alyssa,
I use fresh chicken thighs for this recipe.
Yes you can use your favorite type of pasta! Just check after 15-20 minutes to make sure it doesn’t get overcooked.
Thanks and Enjoy!
Kelley
Bonnie Minskey
Hi Kelley
Can boneless, skinless chicken breasts be used. If so could you please revive the instructions for me.
Thank you. Bonnie
Kelley Simmons
Hi Bonnie,
Yes you can use boneless skinless chicken breasts! I would cook them for 1 1/2-2 1/2 hours on low rather than high. Chicken breasts tend to dry out faster than chicken thighs.
Hope you enjoy! Thank you!
Kelley
Jenna T
Wondering if I can cook this on low? If so how long would it cook for?
Kelley Simmons
Hi Jenna,
Yes absolutely! I would just increase the cooking time. I would check after 4 hours but it could take up to 6.
Thanks and enjoy,
Kelley
Holly
Thank you for posting this recipe. I am considering making this for a work potluck (Italian theme). I would greatly appreciate if you have time to answer a couple questions:
1). I noticed you responded to a couple others who asked about using chicken breast rather than thighs- would cutting up the raw chicken breasts to bite-sized pieces ensure it would cook in 2 hours before adding the other ingredients?
2). Could I use frozen egg noodles in place of dry pasta (I think the thicker noodles are better with alfredo to hold the sauce), and if so, would I still add them 30 minutes prior to serving?
Kelley Simmons
Hi Holly,
1. Yes you can use boneless skinless chicken breasts! I would cook them for 1 1/2-2 1/2 hours on low rather than high. Chicken breasts tend to dry out faster than chicken thighs. Also leaving the chicken breast whole keeps it from drying out.
2. Yes you could use frozen egg noodles. However they will take more time. I would add them 1 hour prior to serving since they are frozen.
Hope you enjoy! Thank you!
Kelley