Make this Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken Penne for dinner and everyone will want seconds!
I was on pinterest and saw this recipe and knew I could make something just as good in my slow cooker. I didn’t realize I was going to make the easiest most delicious and kid friendly pasta ever! I made this recipe again a week later for a girl scout pot luck and there wasn’t any left!
I start by cooking 2 cans of cream of chicken soup, chicken breasts, chicken broth, dried tarragon and pepper for 6 hours on low.
Then I shred the chicken and add sour cream and cheese.
Then add the cooked penne pasta. I originally planned to make this with egg noodles, I bought an off brand and those fell to bits right before I was going to add to the chicken and sauce. I went back to the store and bought penne pasta and I am so glad that I did. The penne pasta has a great texture, perfect for this recipe.
Mix it up.
Top with more cheese.
Heaven on a plate! Plenty of sauce to coat all the noodles. I highly recommend this meal for an easy weeknight meal.
Here is my YouTube video of this recipe. You can follow me on YouTube, here.
Would your family enjoy this pasta dinner? Mine really did! I hope you have a great weekend and I’ll be back next week with another recipe.
- 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 (10.5-oz) cans cream of chicken soup (don't add water)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- ½ tsp. dried leaf tarragon (can substitute oregano or thyme here)
- 1.5 cups sliced mushrooms
- 1 small sweet yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 lb. penne pasta (cooked according to package directions on the stove-top)
- 5-quart or larger
- Add the cream of chicken soup and chicken broth to the slow cooker, stir until smooth.
- Add the tarragon, pepper, mushrooms and onions, stir.
- Add the chicken breasts.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- After the cooking time is up, start cooking the pasta according to the package directions to Al dente on the stove-top, do not over cook!
- Shred the chicken with 2 forks.
- Add sour cream and half of the cheese, stir.
- Add the cooked and drained pasta and stir again.
- Sprinkle over remaining cheese. Cover the slow cooker and cook for an additional 20 minutes on low.
- Serve and enjoy!
I used my 6.5-quart touch-screen Crock-Pot® for this recipe. You can use any slow cooker 5-quarts or larger.
You may also like: Slow Cooker Milk and Honey Corn on the Cob
Sue Wilson says
October 5, 2017 at 7:26 amCould Velveeta cheese be used in place of shredded cheddar cheese?
Sarah Olson says
October 5, 2017 at 11:11 amI don’t see why not!
michelle says
October 16, 2017 at 10:21 amI have no chicken broth. I used veg. broth to make your cream of recipe and also veg. broth in the recipe itself. Smells so good! Will try to post whether it works out or not.
Sarah Olson says
October 16, 2017 at 11:37 amGreat! I can’t wait to hear!
Steph says
November 2, 2017 at 11:53 amHow much water should I add if I’m going to make this with uncooked pasta
Sarah Olson says
November 2, 2017 at 12:24 pmI don’t recommend uncooked pasta in the slow cooker, it tastes like chalk, though it can be done. I don’t know how much water.
Melissa says
December 30, 2017 at 7:57 amCan you use egg noodles instead of penne pasta?
Debby says
November 5, 2017 at 5:34 pmAny ideas for reheating if you have lots of left overs and want to have for a second night dinner?
Sarah Olson says
November 5, 2017 at 7:04 pmI microwave individually on each plate! Sorry I haven’t tried any other way.
Samara says
November 25, 2017 at 9:28 amCan you use different cheeses? I am hoping to maybe try a mixture of Italian style cheeses instead. Would that still taste good?
Zina says
January 21, 2018 at 7:07 amWhat if you only have a 4 qt crockpot? Should I cut the recipe in half?
Sarah Olson says
January 22, 2018 at 7:14 amI think you may have to get this to fit.
Kim says
January 24, 2018 at 11:57 amIt was delicious! My family enjoyed it. I didnt add mushrooms but it was good without it. The chicken was tender and the flavor was good. I added italian seasoning and poultry seasoning and it gave it a good flavor. It’s def going in my recipes list. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Margaret Swan says
January 24, 2018 at 3:30 pmCan use rotisserie chicken and just reduce cooking time? Would you also reduce other ingredients?
KLP says
January 24, 2018 at 3:42 pmHow many cups is considered a serving? 1 cup?
Emily says
January 25, 2018 at 4:34 amIf I cook this for 8 hours, will it burn? I have to go to work & cant turn it off after 6
Sarah Olson says
January 25, 2018 at 6:39 amI don’t think it will burn! Should be fine.
Donna Soares Burt says
August 15, 2018 at 12:59 amBuy a timer you can set & plug the crock pot into the timer so it will turn itself off.
Vicki says
February 22, 2018 at 10:07 pmFirst time I made it we all loved it so I’m making it again but this time I brought cream chicken and corn soup. (Really need to take my glasses when shopping now) I hope it will taste ok.
Lisa Cunningham says
February 25, 2018 at 6:37 pmI made this for the first time. We loved it. I had thawed a 3 pound package of chicken breasts so I used it all. I added a third can of soup for added sauce. Otherwise, I followed the recipe. Will definitely make again.
Michelle says
February 28, 2018 at 11:16 amCan I cook this on high for 4 hours instead? Started it a little late and don’t want to be eating at bedtime.
Sarah Olson says
February 28, 2018 at 11:34 amI think it will be fine!
Dee says
April 24, 2018 at 7:21 amI think I’m going to use boneless chicken thighs that should work
Sarah Olson says
April 24, 2018 at 9:53 amYes, I love chicken thighs in the slow cooker
Alison says
April 29, 2018 at 12:04 pmI don’t have 6 hours to make it. Is it okay if I cook it on high for half the time?
Sarah Olson says
April 29, 2018 at 12:12 pm4 hours on high should be fine.
Alison says
April 29, 2018 at 12:22 pmThank you!
mike says
May 30, 2018 at 7:18 amCan I substitute water for the chicken broth? I don’t currently have any broth. Or could I just forego the broth? Would it just make it thicker, or cause other issues? Thanks!
Sarah Olson says
May 30, 2018 at 10:32 amI think that would work fine.
Anonymous says
June 17, 2018 at 12:56 pmCan you use cream of mushroom as well ……
Sarah Olson says
June 17, 2018 at 5:14 pmyes, I think that it would work fine!
Anonymous says
August 16, 2018 at 4:33 amI made this for a potluck, it was tasty!
Sarah Olson says
August 19, 2018 at 8:25 amgreat to hear!
Anonymous says
September 13, 2018 at 1:49 pmSo we add uncooked chicken breast? Or do we cook the chicken then add it?
Sarah Olson says
September 13, 2018 at 5:13 pmuncooked. The slow cooker will cook it. 🙂
Anonymous says
October 1, 2018 at 9:53 amThanks souch for recipe it’s in the slow cooker now.. Can’t wait yo eat and see how turned out… My man will put it to the test lol
Joanne says
October 7, 2018 at 6:22 pmIf I want to make this with chicken thighs, how many thighs should I make and is the cook time the same?
Sarah Olson says
October 7, 2018 at 7:07 pmprobably 6 if they are boneless. It will be good with thighs!
Tamika Albright Minnicks says
October 9, 2018 at 2:00 pmI have a 2 qt slow cooker. How would you suggest I adjust this recipe? It looks amazing!!
Sarah Olson says
October 9, 2018 at 4:22 pmHi Tamika, you could try cutting it in half. That’s a small slow cooker!
Alison says
November 5, 2018 at 4:03 pmJust made this. I changed up a few things. I used 1 can cream of mushroom in place of the 2nd can of cream of chicken to take the place of the actual mushrooms. (I can hide them better that way) I used onion powder instead of onion. (Same reason) taste fantastic! The only thing I would change is, i would cube the chicken instead of shredding it. Once you start stirring in all the ingredients, the chicken really disintegrates and I prefer a bit more chuncky.
Vanessa says
November 19, 2018 at 10:45 amThanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
Sarah Olson says
November 19, 2018 at 5:09 pmThe same as any leftovers. I personally would try to finish it before 3 days.
Julie Hager says
March 8, 2019 at 2:22 pmI don’t know if you will get this in time, but I am making this now, I followed ur recipe. The sauce the chicken is cooking in (it’s been 4.5 hrs) has become very runny(watery). It doesn’t look to be this way in your video. Do you have any suggestions? Or is it ok? Thanks!!
Btw, it smells amazing!!!
Sarah Olson says
March 11, 2019 at 10:45 amI think it will all be fine, how did it turn out?
Rose D says
March 19, 2019 at 11:06 amWant to try this with beef or browned hamburg. & cream of mushroom soup & more cheese maybe swiss & cream cheese
Chicken sounds good . Would make & do beef version to have 2 different meals
Thank you
Black Wolf says
April 1, 2019 at 11:04 amSara,
I tried this a couple of months and double the recipe it turned out wonderful let’s just say this the 8 qrt crockpot I have was empty . Thank you so much for the recipe.