Can you cook chicken pasta bake in a slow cooker?

Absolutely! While a traditional pasta bake usually crisps up in the oven, you can totally get that creamy, cheesy goodness right in your slow cooker. The chicken cooks slowly, soaking up all the rich sauces, and stays incredibly juicy — giving you a hearty boost of protein in every bite. Just remember: in the crockpot, you won’t get a crispy top — but you’ll have rich, melty pasta that feels like a cozy hug in a bowl. (If you really miss that baked golden top, you can sprinkle extra cheese on and pop it under the broiler for a minute or two at the end!)

Can you cook chicken pasta in a slow cooker?

Oh yes, and it’s one of my favorite easy dinners! The trick is cooking the chicken low and slow in the sauce so it stays juicy and tender. Then you stir in cooked pasta at the very end — that way the noodles stay perfectly al dente and don’t turn mushy. It's almost effortless, but tastes like you spent hours!

How long to cook chicken pasta in a slow cooker?

You’ll want to cook the chicken in sauce on LOW for 4 to 6 hours . The chicken should reach 165°F internally and shred easily with a fork. After that, it’s just a quick mix with your cooked pasta and a handful of cheese. Dinner = done.

How to cook chicken pasta in a slow cooker?

It’s as simple as: Layer your chicken into a sprayed crockpot. Season and sauce it up with marinara, Alfredo, and seasonings. Slow cook on low until tender. Shred or cube the chicken , add mozzarella cheese, and stir. Cook pasta separately , then mix it all together. Serve with love (and maybe a little extra Parmesan on top, because you deserve it).

Best Slow Cooker Chicken Pasta

Description

This Slow Cooker Chicken Pasta is the ultimate cozy, creamy, and comforting dish. Tender shredded chicken, rich marinara and Alfredo sauces, and melty mozzarella come together for an easy, crowd-pleasing meal. Perfect for busy nights when you want something hearty without the fuss!

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb chicken breast

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp Italian seasoning

¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

1 tbsp minced garlic

24 oz jar Marinara Sauce

15 oz jar Alfredo Sauce

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

16 oz pasta (Cellentani, penne, or similar)

Parmesan cheese (for topping)

Dried parsley (for garnish)

Instructions

Lightly spray your crockpot with cooking spray.
Layer in the chicken breasts and sprinkle with salt, pepper, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
Add the minced garlic, marinara sauce, and Alfredo sauce on top. Do not stir.
Cook on LOW for 4–6 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
Shred the chicken with two forks (or cube if preferred).
Stir in the shredded mozzarella cheese.
Cook the pasta separately according to package instructions; drain.
Add the cooked pasta to the crockpot and mix everything together until creamy and combined.
Serve hot, topped with Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of dried parsley.

Notes

Freshly shredding mozzarella and Parmesan gives the best melty texture.

Add a handful of spinach with the mozzarella for an easy veggie boost.

Frozen chicken breasts can be used; just increase cooking time by about 1 hour.

In a rush? Use rotisserie chicken and simmer everything on the stovetop instead.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Category: Dinner
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: Per Serving
Calories: 520 kcal
Sugar: 7g
Sodium: 900mg
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 50g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 35g
Cholesterol: 110mg

Keywords: slow cooker chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, easy crockpot dinner, crockpot chicken alfredo pasta, family friendly dinner