Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta
98 CommentsOct 02, 2026
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Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta combines tender chicken thighs, carrots, peas, and rotini in a buttery garlic sauce. The chicken and vegetables cook in the crockpot, then you stir in cooked pasta at the end for an easy family dinner.
Chicken pasta recipes are so versatile and if you’re looking to put together a complete meal plan, add my Pesto Chicken Pasta and Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta to your list.
Table of Contents
- Why This Recipe is a Keeper
- The Ingredients
- How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta
- Tips and Variations
- Can I Cook the Pasta in the Slow Cooker?
- Should I Add Liquid to the Crockpot?
- How to Store and Reheat?
- Best Ways to Serve Slow Cooker Pasta
- More Slow Cooker Pasta Recipes
- Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta Recipe
Featured Comment
"This was absolutely delicious! I make crockpot meals at work and this one was another hit for us at the office. I’ll make it for my family soon. Absolutely delicious."
- KURT
Why This Recipe is a Keeper
- One of the things you'll like most about this easy garlic butter chicken pasta is that it's a complete meal. Loaded with tender chicken, pasta, vegetables, and a homemade garlic butter sauce, you’ll barely have to lift a finger for dinner.
- This is a great meal to cook while you're not home; just add the cooked pasta and you're ready for dinner.
- It's a great meal for kids - it's got the buttery noodles they love, but also lots of protein and veggies.
- Want a version of this without pasta? Try my Garlic Butter Chicken and Veggies.
The Ingredients
Chicken: I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this; they make the pasta taste extra buttery.
Butter Sauce: Butter, garlic, thyme, basil, salt, and pepper make for a great sauce for the slow cooker pasta.
Vegetables: Carrots and onions cook all day with the chicken. Stir in the peas at the end.
How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta
- Place the thighs, carrots, onion, butter, and seasonings into the slow cooker.
- Cook until the chicken is ultra tender and shred.
- Add the cooked pasta and peas, stir and serve!
Tips and Variations
Less Butter: Reduce the butter slightly if you prefer, then add a splash of chicken broth at the end if the pasta needs more moisture.
Other Vegetables: You can add leeks, mushrooms, or green beans to this (add at the beginning of the cooking time).
Pasta Shape: This recipe is great with small pasta shapes like rotini; try bow-tie, penne, or wagon wheels for a change.
Chicken Swap: You can use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs, though you may need to add a touch more butter before serving.
Can I Cook the Pasta in the Slow Cooker?
No, this recipe was tested with the pasta cooked on the stovetop. Cooking it directly in the slow cooker can give it a chalky texture or cause it to fall apart, so cook it separately before adding it.
Should I Add Liquid to the Crockpot?
No additional liquid is needed. The butter melts, and the chicken and vegetables release liquid as they cook.
How to Store and Reheat?
Transfer the cooled leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3–4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of broth or water if needed to prevent dryness.
Best Ways to Serve Slow Cooker Pasta
Here is how my family enjoys this meal:
We typically eat this as-is! Yes, no sides, since this has all you need in one bowl.
You can add sides such as a green salad or bread to round out the meal.
Another option is to skip the pasta and serve the garlic butter chicken over a bed of steamed rice.
More Slow Cooker Pasta Recipes
Chicken Parmesan Pasta and Slow Cooker Million Dollar Spaghetti are rich, cheesy dishes perfect for pasta lovers craving comfort food.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodles is a cozy, old-fashioned favorite with tender chicken and thick egg noodles in a savory broth.
Slow Cooker Stuffed Shells and Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta both bring bold, Italian inspired flavors with melty cheese and herby sauces that make dinner feel special with little effort. Or serve my Slow Cooker 40 Clove Garlic Chicken over angel hair pasta.
If you tried this Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Happy Slow Cooking!
How to Video
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
- 4 carrots, peeled and cut into slices about ½ inch thick
- 1 white onion, diced
- ½ cup salted butter, cut into slices
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 tsp. dried basil
- ½ tsp. sea salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- 1 cup frozen peas, ADD AT THE END
- 1 lb. rotini pasta, cooked al dente, ADD AT THE END
- Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Add the chicken, garlic, onion, carrots, butter, thyme, basil, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours.
- When the cooking time is done, cook the pasta according to the package directions.
- Shred the chicken with two forks. Stir in the frozen peas and cooked, drained pasta. Cover until the peas are heated through, this will only take a few minutes.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve!
Sarah's Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
After less than 5 hours in the crock pot on low, it’s full of grease and my carrots are brown. This looks disgusting. Not sure how to salvage this meal…
Crock pot recipes aren’t pretty. But it will be better when the pasta is added 🙂
Can you freeze this and then add to the slow cooker another day? I tend to freeze my slow cooker recipes for when my husband goes out of town. Then I don’t have to cook or prep with a toddler around.
Potatoes get weird when they are froze in slow cooker freezer meals. I don’t think this would do well.
Potatoes? I don’t remember there being any in this recipe. Am I missing something?
Could you please respond to this? I don’t see any potatoes in the recipe. Did you mean pasta?
Oh my goodness! Sorry, I have another garlic butter recipe with potatoes. I think you could freeze this before cooking. I apologize about the confusion.
Can I cook it on high for a shorter period ? Say 4 hrs?
Yes, on high. Keep the lid on, carrots take some time to get tender.
Can I cube chicken breast rather than shred the chicken or will it dry out? Thanks!
IF cube is used it will end up shredded in tiny bits when it gets stirred. I don’t think they would dry out though.
It’s says to add the peas and pasta “at the end. ” What do you mean by this? Do I cook the peas and pasta in the crockpot? If so how long? If not then won’t the peas still be frozen?
Please add more detail to your recipe! I’m cooking now but just realized I don’t know what to do with the peas!! Also you forgot to add the step to shred the chicken. Or at least that’s what I assume I’m suppose to do.
Once the hot peas hit the chicken after it is cooked they will be thawed, they do not need to be cooked. The only step missing was shred the chicken, I added it. Sorry about that.
Can I use egg noodles
Hi Sharon, I think you could. Be careful not to over cook them. They tend to fall apart.
Made this with chicken breast, it was great. Will make again.
Absolutely delicious. Will make again. Thanks, Sarah.
Can u sub chicken breast?
This sounds delicious, Sarah!
Yummy recipes!