This Crockpot Italian chicken is rich, creamy, and comforting, making it the perfect easy weeknight meal that the entire family will love. You'll need just 5 basic ingredients, and under 10 minutes of hands-on time, to put this together! It's the perfect main course to pair with noodles, rice, or even potatoes!
If you haven't guessed that already, I'm borderline obsessed with my slow cooker.Cooking with it just really makes things so much easier, and the final results are always delicious.
That's exactly why my family and I love this recipe so much. It's quick, easy, and oh-so-good!It is actually inspired by my creamy Crockpot chicken Alfredo recipe, and it pairs amazingly well with my slow cooker rice.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- You'll need just five basic ingredients to put this slow cooker Italian chicken together.
- It's an easy slow cooker recipe perfect even for busy weeknights.
- The creamy sauce and Italian flavors are incredibly versatile- you can pair the chicken with a variety of sides.
- It's kid-friendly too! Finally, you'll have a dish that everyone in the house will enjoy.
Ingredients for the Crockpot Italian Chicken Recipe
- Chicken: Start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are ideally at room temperature. Chicken thighs are a good alternative if you want the meat to be darker, and more flavorful.
- Italian dressing: Any classic Italian dressing mix should do the trick- I'm partial to the Olive Garden Italian dressing, which I also used for my Olive Garden Crockpot chicken recipe.
- Cream of chicken soup: Your classic canned version should work just fine.
- Parmesan cheese: To lend the Italian chicken that salty, cheesy deliciousness. Cream cheese: For that rich, creamy deliciousness. Make sure you cube the cream cheese right after you get it out of the refrigerator.
The full ingredient list and exact quantities of each one are included in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Flavor Variations and Substitutions
- Swap the cream of chicken soup with mushroom soup to lend the dish a bit of an earthy flavor.
- Swap the Parmesan cheese for another kind of cheese like Asiago or Romano for a sharper, more distinct cheese flavor
- Choose low-sodium cream of chicken soup instead of the regular version to control the salt content in the dish.
- Want a bit of a spicy kick? Sprinkle some red pepper flakes into the mix.
- To make this a budget-friendly meal, you can use chicken legs instead of chicken breast.
- Bump up the nutrition in this Italian Crockpot chicken by adding a handful of spinach or kale to the pot in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Use Neufchâtel cheese instead of cream cheese to make the sauce lighter, and less dense.
- Garnish with lots of chopped fresh basil or parsley before you serve.
How To Make Crockpot Italian Chicken
Step 1: Prep the chicken: Pat the chicken dry and place it in the bottom of the slow cooker pot.
Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients: Add the Italian dressing, cream of chicken soup, parmesan cheese, and cubed cream cheese, in that order.
Step 3: Cook until tender: Cook until the chicken is nice and tender.
Step 4: Shred chicken: Remove the chicken, shred it while hot, and add it back into the creamy sauce.
Hint
Remember to shred the chicken while it's still hot- it'll fall apart more easily and uniformly, making the dish so much better.
Recipe Tips
- Use a good-quality Italian dressing to lend the chicken a more robust and zesty flavor.
- For extra flavor, season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder before adding them to the slow cooker.
- Add a whole jar of marinara on the top to make this creamy Italian chicken with red sauce.
- For added texture and richness, mix sautéed mushrooms and onions into the crock pot along with the other ingredients.
- Stir in some sun-dried tomatoes and Italian dressing to lend the dish a tangy, tomato-forward taste.
- Choose chicken breasts that are all roughly the same thickness to make sure they cook evenly.
- Instead of two forks, you can use a stand mixer to shred the chicken easily in no time using the paddle attachment.
- If the sauce is too thick after cooking, add a small amount of milk or chicken broth to adjust the consistency.
Serving Suggestions
This rich, creamy Italian chicken pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes, pasta, or even with rice. I love teaming it up with my Crockpot roasted potatoes whenever I'm craving a comfort meal, or with with my slow cooker focaccia when I want something straightforward and effortless.
Storing & Freezing
If you have any leftovers, you can refrigerate them for up to 3 days. Just use a clean, airtight container to preserve its freshness. You can also pop it into a freezer bag or a freezer-safe container if you want it to last longer- it freezes well, for up to 3 months.
You can then thaw it overnight, and then reheat it in a saucepan over medium heat, or in the microwave with a little splash of water to get it to the right consistency.
FAQ
Yes! You can start with frozen chicken breasts too! Just remember that it may require an additional hour of cooking time to ensure the chicken cooks through properly. Also, since the chicken is frozen, it will release more water, which could make the sauce less creamy.
Yes. You can add vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, or zucchini to the Crockpot halfway through cooking time. This will help keep the veggies from getting overcooked, and you'll have the perfect texture.
Chicken breasts usually take about 3 to 4 hours in a high setting or 6 to 7 hours in a low setting in a Crockpot to become nice and tender. To check if your Italian chicken is cooked, check the internal temperature. If it reaches 165°F (74°C), it is safe for consumption.
More Easy Crock Pot Chicken Recipes
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Crockpot Italian Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless chicken breasts
- 1 ( 16 ounce) bottle Italian dressing
- 1 (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese Cut into cubes
Instructions
- Add chicken to the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Pour the Italian dressing, cream of chicken soup, and parmesan cheese over the chicken. Then, place cream cheese cubes on top.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
- Shred the chicken in the slow cooker with two forks. Then mix into the creamy Italian sauce.
- Serve over rice or noodles and enjoy!
Notes
- Use a good-quality Italian dressing to lend the chicken a more robust and zesty flavor.
- For extra flavor, season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder before adding them to the slow cooker.
- Add a whole jar of marinara on the top to make this creamy Italian chicken with red sauce.
- For added texture and richness, mix sautéed mushrooms and onions into the crock pot along with the other ingredients.
- Stir in some sun-dried tomatoes and Italian dressing to lend the dish a tangy, tomato-forward taste.
- Choose chicken breasts that are all roughly the same thickness to make sure they cook evenly.
- Instead of two forks, you can use a stand mixer to shred the chicken easily in no time using the paddle attachment.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
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