Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Pasta
14 Comments Mar 04, 2024
Updated Jun 10, 2024
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This Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Pasta features hearty chicken, bacon, mushrooms and spinach with pasta in a tomato sauce. It’s great for feeding a family of any size to a large crowd. It is sure to become a staple in your home.
Tossing bacon in a meal adds a nice and quick meaty taste, especially in my Slow Cooker Bacon Barbecue Meatloaf and Slow Cooker Chicken with Bacon Gravy.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Bacon Pasta Recipe
My mom would always make pasta if she wasn’t making my dad’s favorite foods and I would always look forward to dinner on those nights. I try to make pasta once a week for my family since it is their favorite, so this delicious recipe is typically my go to. An added perk is the leftovers are great for my husband’s work lunches.
All you need are just a few staple ingredients, most of which you may already have in your fridge and pantry.
Recipe Ingredients
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: A lean source of protein without the extra fat, they become tender and flavorful through the slow cooking process. (You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs.)
- Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish while keeping sodium levels in check for a healthier option.
- Pepper): Adds a touch of mild heat and complements the other flavors in the dish without being too spicy.
- Garlic Powder: Infuses a rich, savory garlic flavor into the recipe while offering a quicker option rather than using freshly minced garlic cloves.
- Dried Thyme: A fragrant herb that contributes an earthy flavor.
- Dried Oregano: Adds a Mediterranean hint to the dish.
- Diced Red Onion: Brings a sweet and savory flavor, along with a dose fiber and vitamins for a nutritious boost.
- Sliced Mushrooms: Packed with nutrients, mushrooms contribute a meaty texture to the dish, offering a healthy alternative to bulk up the recipe.
- Bacon: Provides a smoky and savory flavor while adding a crispy texture. Cook bacon before adding it to the crock pot. Use thick cut bacon for even more flavor.
- Spaghetti Sauce: A base rich in tomatoes, this sauce helps bring together the entire dish and create a creamy sauce.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a savory, salty kick to the dish all while enhancing flavor.
- Sliced Baby Spinach: Incorporates a nutrient-dense leafy green without overpowering the dish’s taste.
- Cooked Bow-Tie Pasta: A hearty pasta, cooked al dente before being added toward the ending of cooking time.
Recipe Directions
Step One – Add each chicken breast to the slow cooker.
Step Two – Sprinkle over the salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme and oregano. Add the red onion and mushrooms.
Step Three – Lay bacon pieces on top.
Step Four – Pour pasta sauce on top. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours.
Step Five – After the cooking time is done, shred the cooked chicken with two forks.
Step Six – Sprinkle over the parmesan cheese.
Step Seven – Then add sliced fresh spinach.
Step Eight – Add the cooked pasta.
Step Nine – Stir everything until it is combined. Add more parmesan cheese to the top and serve immediately! Enjoy!
How to Serve
- Serve a generous portion of the chicken pasta in individual bowls. Top it with an extra sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese and a dash of freshly ground black pepper (or red pepper flakes for a kick). Pair it with a side salad or some garlic bread for a well-rounded dinner.
- If you’re looking for something to pair with this dish, you can’t go wrong with a fresh garden salad, breadsticks, roasted veggies, or a caprese salad.
- Get creative by using the pasta as a flavorful stuffing for bell peppers. Cut bell peppers in half, remove the seeds, and stuff them with the pasta mixture. Top each pepper with a bit of extra cheese and bake until the peppers are tender.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! While the recipe suggests bow tie pasta, feel free to experiment with other shapes like penne pasta, fusilli, or rotini. Different pasta varieties can bring unique textures and hold onto the delicious sauce in their own way.
Yes, you can make it ahead of time. Cook the creamy pasta according to the instructions, allow it to cool, and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat it gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth if needed to maintain the pasta’s moisture.
If you’re looking for a healthier option or need a bacon substitute, you can try using turkey bacon or vegan bacon alternatives. Alternatively, you can omit the bacon altogether.
Yes, you can use fresh herbs instead of dried ones. Keep in mind that the flavor intensity may vary, so you might need a larger quantity of fresh herbs compared to dried.
More Slow Cooker Pasta Recipes
- Slow Cooker Baked Spaghetti
- Slow Cooker Southwestern Cheesy Chicken Pasta
- Slow Cooker Pesto Mozzarella Chicken Pasta
- Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu
- Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Scampi
- Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan and Pasta
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Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Pasta
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. dried thyme
- ½ tsp. dried oregano
- ½ cup diced red onion
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 8 slices cut bacon, cooked
- 46 oz. Spaghetti sauce, (two 23-oz. jars)
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, plus more for topping and serving
- 2 cups sliced baby spinach
- 1 lb. cooked bow-tie pasta
Instructions
- Add the chicken to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme and oregano. Add the red onion, mushrooms and bacon. Pour over the pasta sauce.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours.
- After the cooking time is done, shred the chicken with two forks. Sprinkle over the parmesan cheese and sliced spinach. Add the cooked and drained pasta. Stir everything until it is combined.
- Add more parmesan cheese to the top and serve!
How to Video
Sarah’s Notes
- If you’re looking for a healthier option or need a bacon substitute, you can try using turkey bacon or vegan bacon alternatives. Alternatively, you can omit the bacon altogether.
- While the recipe suggests bow tie pasta, feel free to experiment with other shapes like penne pasta, fusilli, or rotini. Different pasta varieties can bring unique textures and hold onto the delicious sauce in their own way.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Really liked the recipe. Would definitely make again. My son told me it needed more bacon
Can this recipe be made without mushrooms? my wife is allergic
Yes, will be work fine without.
If you’re wanting to cook on low, how long would you cook it for? Thanks!
You can do 6-8 hours with no issues.
This looks so tasty. I definitely try this recipe soon.
The ragu sauce throws the entire dish out of balance, and is unsalvageable. A waste of perfectly good bacon chicken and veggies.
If you want to eat pure sugar, this is the dish for you.
Or, use a pasta sauce that doesn’t suck so much.
I don’t like Ragu at all. Grew up with Prego but as an adult I found Mids. Try it if you can find it. Here in GA, I find it at Publix & Kroger. A little pricey if it’s not on sale. But sooo worth the xtra buck or 2 🙂
could this be cooked on low for a longer time?
Yes, I do think it would work fine, the sauce is liquidy so I think it would do well for longer on low.
Does Ragu make an Alfredo Sauce? Tomato sauce is the only part of Italian food that my tummy just can’t seem to take. I don’t have that problem with Alfredo Sauce.
Sharon, I just happened to be reading comments and though you probably know by now, yes, Ragu makes a couple of Alfredo sauces. They also have a Creamy Mozzarella and a Roasted Garlic Parmesan 🙂
Thanks Karen. I did find the two Alfredo sauces. Haven’t seen the Creamy Mozzarella or Roasted Garlic Parmesan yet, but I’ll be on the lookout next time I shop!
That looks amazing and I absolutely loved your video! Thanks for sharing! I know my husband will just love this! I have a few jars of that amazing Homestyle sauce myself! we love it!