If you like the flavor of spinach artichoke dip, then you’ll undoubtedly love the combination of this slow cooker chicken spinach artichoke pasta. This dish is made with boneless chicken breasts, spinach, artichokes, and a few twists for a taste everyone will enjoy.
Can I cook pasta in a slow cooker?
Yes, you can. But highly recommend not! The slow cooker doesn’t get hot enough to cook pasta properly, so you have a big chalky mushy mess.
You can, though, cook all your other ingredients in the slow cooker! Then towards the end of the cooking time, add the cooked pasta. You will end up with a perfect meal.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken – boneless skinless chicken breasts will be cooked whole and shredded later.
- Pasta – cavatappi or rotini makes this dish eye-catching and easy to poke on the fork.
- Spinach – 4 cups of fresh spinach will ensure plenty of green goodness for your spinach artichoke chicken.
- Artichokes – these can be purchased pre-chopped and in the can.
- Ranch Dressing Mix – add a tangy flavor to the overall dish.
- Cheese – adding cream cheese will give this dish the perfect amount of creaminess, while parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese will provide a cheesy sauce.
- Spices – this dish is made perfect with a combination of black pepper, red pepper flakes, and minced garlic.
- Pesto – made of basil, pine nuts, oil, and grated parmesan cheese, pesto adds a grassiness yet pleasant taste to any dish.
- Other Ingredients – sour cream, banana peppers, and red onions.
Step-by-Step Ingredients
Step One – Place chicken breasts into the slow cooker and top with ranch dressing mix, seasoning, and minced garlic.
Step Two – Add diced purple onion and banana peppers drained and slightly chopped.
Step Three – Add spinach and chopped artichokes (drained).
Step Four – Top with remaining ingredients (sour cream, cream cheese, parmesan, mozzarella, and pesto) and cook on heat preference (LOW for 7 hours or HIGH for 4 hours).
Step Five – About 30 minutes before total cook time, remove chicken and shred in a bowl. Also, during this time, cook noodles to al dente.
Step Six – Add the cooked and drained noodles to the slow cooker and stir.
Step Seven – Add chicken mixture to the slow cooker and gently stir.
Step Eight – Serve and enjoy!
What to serve with this
Honestly, this is a complete meal all on its own. You have your protein, vegetables, and fiber covered from the chicken to the spinach and artichokes. The pasta adds a nice helping of carbohydrates, and the remaining ingredients add their health benefits. Anything extra added (such as garlic bread) may be too filling.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely. Add all the ingredients (except pasta) into a freezer bag and freeze. When you’re ready to cook, defrost it entirely and cook according to the instructions.
Yes. Depending on the ounces of your package, use what’s equivalent to 2 cups (about half of a 5 oz. package). Thaw the spinach and remove the liquid.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Spinach Artichoke Pasta
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 Tbsp. ranch dressing seasoning mix
- 1 tsp. fresh cracked pepper
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 cup canned banana peppers drained and roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 4 cups spinach
- 14 oz. can chopped artichoke hearts
- 1 cup grated parmesan
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 8 oz. cream cheese cubed
- 1/4 cup pesto
- 1 lbs. noodles cavatappi or rotini (COOKED ON STOVETOP – add at the end)
Instructions:
- Add the chicken breasts to the slow cooker. Sprinkle ranch seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes over each breast.
- Next, add in the minced garlic, banana peppers, red onion, spinach, artichoke, parmesan, mozzarella, sour cream, cream cheese cubes, and pesto. Cover and cook for 7 hours on low, or 4 hours on high. After 1 hour, gently stir.
- In the final 30 minutes of cooking time, boil and drain the noodles (don't over cook!). Remove the chicken breasts and shred. Return chicken and noodles to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Serve in bowls and enjoy!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Is it necessary to add the noodles to the slow cooker. We’re a mixed gluten free household, so if I can cook two noodles and just serve over that’s aweseome.
I think that will work great!