Comfort food at its finest! Slow Cooker Chicken Tetrazzini has tender shredded chicken in a creamy sauce with mushrooms. A one pot meal the entire family will love.
Having dinner together with my family is most important to me. We try as much as possible to eat dinner at the table, so finding a meal we all love makes dinner time run smoother (remember I have a very picky 13-year old).
This recipe uses cream cheese and chicken broth as the base, you won’t find any condensed cream of chicken soup (or mushroom soup) in this meal.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken: Use boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Cream Cheese: Often, cream cheese is used in slow cooker recipes to create a thick sauce without having to use flour and butter.
- Chicken Broth: A touch of chicken broth is added to the sauce base.
- Vegetables: Sliced mushrooms and diced white onion are classic vegetables for chicken tetrazzini.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, dried tarragon, and garlic powder will season the chicken and noodles perfectly.
- Cheese: Shredded mozzarella cheese is used (can use parmesan cheese too).
- Spaghetti Noodles: You can use a different noodle than spaghetti noodles, but I strongly recommend the spaghetti noodle for it soaks up the sauce perfectly.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – I start by adding the chicken, seasonings, mushrooms, and onions to the slow cooker. I let that cook all day.
Step Two – When I am ready to serve dinner, I add cream cheese, shred the chicken then stir in a half-pound of cooked spaghetti.
Step Three – Add a bit of mozzarella and cover the slow cooker until the cheese melts.
Recipe FAQs
This meal is great with 1/3 less fat cream cheese and reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, make it to accommodate your family’s diet!
Yes, if you can find a small turkey breast or turkey tenderloin, that would work great in this recipe.
For this recipe, raw chicken is best for it lets off some natural juices into the sauce. If a rotisserie chicken is used, you may find you need to add broth.
What I love about this crock pot chicken tetrazzini is that it’s great for spaghetti night, but a fresher spin on pasta.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Tetrazzini
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts can use 1-2 lbs.
- ½ tsp. sea salt
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- 1 ½ tsp. dried tarragon or oregano
- 1 cup diced white onion
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, ⅓ less fat or regular
- ½ pound dried spaghetti noodles 1/2 a box, cook according to package directions
- 8 oz. pkg. mozzarella cheese, grated (reduced-fat or regular)
Instructions:
- Add the chicken, sea salt, garlic powder, pepper, tarragon, onions and mushrooms. Pour over the chicken broth. DO NOT ADD THE CREAM CHEESE OR SPAGHETTI YET. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours, or HIGH for 4 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Cut the cream cheese into squares and add the slow cooker, cover. In the meantime cook the spaghetti according to the package directions.
- After the cream cheese has had some time to melt. Take 2 forks and shred the chicken. Stir the sauce and chicken together. Add the cooked and drained pasta. Stir. Add the mozzarella cheese over the pasta and sauce. Cover for about 10 more minutes or until the cheese has melted. Serve and enjoy!
How to Video:
Sarah’s Notes:
- Turkey breast or turkey tenderloin can be used instead of chicken.
- Best to use raw chicken, not rotisserie chicken for this recipe.
- This meal is great with 1/3 less fat cream cheese and reduced-fat mozzarella cheese; make it to accommodate your family’s diet!
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Meg Leatherwood says
Sounds yummy and easy. I’ve always used celery salt in my tetrazzini so I will use that verses the tarragon. Thanks for the post!
Suzan Greenberg says
Absolutely delicious. I followed your recipe exactly. The only thing I did different is that when I mixed the melted cream cheese and shredded the chicken, I added a little more salt and pepper to taste. My husband loved it too! So great to do this in the slow cooker. We went to a movie and then came home to eat this wonderful dinner. I forwarded the recipe to a friend. We are always looking for good crock pot recipes because they are not easy to find. BTW it is great reheated in microwave next day. I just added a little of the leftover chicken broth I had saved in the refrigerator.
Sarah Olson says
that is so great to hear! And yes, I agree SO good the next day, not many slow cooker recipes are!
lori10629 says
This recipe is delicious! I cooked it on high for 4 hours and it was just right. Also added a bit of red chili flakes and substituted the tarragon with basil and oregano. So good! Definitely a make again!
Puper says
Made this today, delicious. I did use a splash more chicken broth and an additional 1/2 blk of cream cheese. I also added a little more salt and season salt to taste b/c I do agree with above it was slightly bland initially. Could do Mrs.Dash for those that need to limit sodium and a low sodium or no sodium ckn broth. Anyway, it was warm, tasty and both my 8 yr old and 18 mo old ate it up. Happy and full kids = happy mommy. Thanks for another great recipe.
Pamm Hester says
Sarah, I have a question…when you cut a recipe in half, do you reduce the cooking time? It is just me and my husband. We do eat leftovers, but do not want to eat them for days. Also, can you please make note of which recipes are good to freeze and I can make the entire recipe.
Sarah Olson says
I would reduce it a bit.
Kellie says
Good, but definitely needs more seasoning. I bet an herb cream cheese would be great instead of plain. Will make again!
Terri Peters says
Sounds great. I’m reducing the amount of mushrooms and tarragon as my family is no a fan but making it today.
Grandma Kc says
I will definitely have to try this one! I’ve made turkey tetrazzini with leftover turkey but never in the slow cooker. Thanks for the recipe!
Shelby Taylor says
Made this last night, but used half a tablespoon of minced garlic instead of garlic powder. It’s perfect paired with an unoaked chardonnay.
Linda says
Just made this chicken tetrazzini recipe. Cut the breasts in smaller pieces-cooked on high in 4 hrs. Delicious!
Tara says
I LOVE chicken tetrazzini and this recipe looks delish! Cooking it in the slow cooker is such a great idea. What a time saver on busy nights!
junebetchley says
Whilst this recipe sounds delicious, why would you want to use that amount of electricity cooking chicken for 8 hours? It would
be be much quicker and cheaper to cook the chicken in the broth on the hob in less than one eight of the time. I like your recipes but this one is a waste of time and money.
Sarah Olson says
The Crock pot takes very little energy. Recipes like this are great for people who aren’t home all day, get home and dinner is ready. Cook the chicken for less time if you want!
valerie blount says
Sarah…you were so kind to June….’whilst’ the comment may have been constructive in her eyes…it smarted a tad. One should always be capable and willing to open ones mind to another’s needs, no? Perhaps there are no crocs where June lives? Wish her well regardless…and yes, this IS a terrific idea!
cindy says
We leave it and go to work!! It is awesome
Martie King says
Whilst June Bechley finds this recipe a waste of time and money, I think this is one of those meals a family looks forward to coming home to at the end of the day!
Anonymous says
Why would you say this? Just don’t use this recipe.