This Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken Penne has features of mac and cheese but with chicken added too! A great meal to come home to that the entire family will enjoy.
Why This Recipe Works
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Anytime you can prepare a “one-pot” meal that takes minimal ingredients and still yields a delicious flavor is a winner in my book. This is one of those busy night meals because the prep time is short, and the cooking time is reasonable.
You can start it, continue your day and finish up minutes before serving. This cheesy chicken penne is an excellent idea for any time of year and is sure to become a new family favorite.
Ingredients:
- Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breasts are the perfect size and yield quite a bit when shredded at the time.
- Cream of chicken soup: You’ll use two cans without adding water; you can use mushroom soup if that is what you have on hand.
- Chicken broth: Or chicken stock helps create the cream sauce texture.
- Seasonings: Pepper and dried leaf tarragon; you can substitute oregano or Italian seasoning.
- Mushrooms: These will be sliced. I know many kids (and adults) don’t like mushrooms; you can leave them out and add additional broth, for they do add moisture to the recipe.
- Onion: Sweet yellow onion is diced and adds a nice flavor.
- Sour cream: Added toward the end to help provide a creamy texture.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: You sharp cheddar or medium cheddar, depending on your preferences.
- Penne pasta: You’ll cook this according to the package directions on the stove.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Add the cream of chicken soup to the slow cooker with the chicken broth.
Step Two – Mix until smooth.
Step Three: Add the mushrooms, diced onion, tarragon, and pepper and mix again.
Step Four – Place the chicken breast on top of that. Cook on LOW for 6 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
Step Five – Just before the cooking time is up, boil your water, then cook the pasta to Al Dente.
Step Six – Shred the chicken with two forks right in the slow cooker.
Step Seven: Add the sour cream, half the cheese, and the cooked and drained pasta.
Step Eight – Stir.
Step Nine – Sprinkle over the remaining cheese.
Step Ten – Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook for an additional 20 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
How to Serve
- This slow cooker meal can be served as-is because it provides plenty of heartiness with the pasta, chicken, and cheese.
- You can also serve it with garlic bread or another bread of your choice.
- This pasta also pairs well with a small side salad or another green vegetable, such as steamed broccoli.
- As for toppings, you can’t go wrong with adding extra shredded cheese or going for some shredded parmesan cheese.
Recipe FAQs
Rotini pasta is another go-to pasta that can be used to substitute the penne pasta. If anything, use whatever you have in your pantry. Egg noodles can be used, though you have to be EXTRA careful not to overcook.
Since sour cream doesn’t freeze very well, this is a recipe that you’ll want to freeze in parts and then cook it according to the directions. You can combine everything up until the sour cream, freeze, and then defrost and cook according to the directions.
Any leftover pasta can be put into an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days.
You could always add more vegetables such as peas, corn, broccoli, bell peppers, green chiles, and the like.
You can use Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, or even dried basil! Make the dish your own with your favorite spices.
Heaven on a plate! Plenty of sauce to coat all the noodles. I highly recommend this meal for an easy weeknight meal.
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Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken Penne
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 21 oz cream of chicken soup (two-10.5 oz cans) Don't add water
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- ½ tsp. dried leaf tarragon can substitute oregano, thyme or Italian seasoning here.
- 1 ½ cups sliced mushrooms
- 1 small sweet yellow onion diced
Add at the end
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 lb. penne pasta cooked according to package directions on the stove-top
Instructions:
- 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!
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- If you have extra picky eaters and want to omit the mushrooms and onions add an additional 1/2 cup of broth. This will replace the moisture from the mushrooms and onions.
- You could always add more vegetables such as peas, corn, broccoli, bell peppers, green chiles and the like.
- Any pasta can be used. Though if you use egg noodles, be extra careful not to overcook, they tend to break apart easily.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Can you make this in an instant pot?
I have not tested but I’m sure you could if there’s enough liquid to start.
I made this tonight. It is EXCELLENT!!! I didn’t put the mushrooms in. I made half the recipe. Half everything inclining cooking time. Will definitely make again!
Can leftovers be frozen?
Can you use frozen chicken?
I recommend using thawed chicken.
Looks great! Can I use canned mushrooms?
Yes, canned mushrooms will work fine!
Is there an oven version of this?
I don’t have one, I apologize.
Can I cook this in high?
Yes. Will do fine. 3.5-4 hours.
I made this recipe for dinner today and it was a big hit. Everyone loved it and said it was great. It was delicious.
How much extra broth should you use if you don’t add the mushrooms?
I would do a 1/4 cup.
My kids are super picky eaters and they both loved this recipe! Yay!!
Thanks
I only had one can of cream of chicken so subbed cream of cheddar cheese. I have picky eaters so hopefully my substitution doesn’t flop!
If you wanted to add fresh spinach to this, at what point would you add…same time as the sour cream?
Yes! It doesn’t take much time at all.