Crock Pot Angel Chicken Recipe
Introduction
Crock Pot Angel Chicken is an easy, comforting dinner featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a creamy Italian-inspired sauce. Served over delicate angel hair pasta, this dish is perfect for busy nights when you want a flavorful meal without much fuss.
Ingredients
- 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 large)
- 4 ounces (½ block) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup (low or no sodium if preferred)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ cup chicken broth (low or no sodium if preferred)
- 1 (0.7 ounce) packet Good Seasons Dry Italian Salad Dressing Mix (or similar)
- 16 ounce box angel hair pasta
- Chopped fresh parsley, cracked pepper, and/or grated Parmesan cheese (optional for serving)
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil and swirl to coat the pan. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides. Once the pan is hot, sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove from heat.
- Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together softened cream cheese and butter until smooth.
- Step 3: Add cream of chicken soup, minced garlic, chicken broth, and Italian dressing mix to the bowl. Whisk everything until fully combined.
- Step 4: Spray the inside of a crock pot with non-stick cooking spray. Place the seared chicken breasts at the bottom of the crock pot.
- Step 5: Pour the creamy soup mixture over the chicken breasts. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Longer cooking will make the chicken more tender and shreddable.
- Step 6: About 10 minutes before serving, cook angel hair pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well.
- Step 7: Serve the chicken breasts whole or shredded over the cooked pasta, spooning extra sauce on top. Optionally garnish with parsley, cracked pepper, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Tips & Variations
- For lower sodium, use no salt added cream of chicken soup and chicken broth, then season to taste with salt.
- If you prefer, cook on high for 1.5-2 hours but keep in mind the chicken may not be quite as tender.
- Add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms into the crock pot for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Try swapping angel hair pasta with fettuccine or penne for a different texture.
Storage
Store leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through. Pasta is best stored separately to avoid sogginess and can be reheated with a splash of water or broth.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use frozen chicken breasts in this recipe?
It’s best to use thawed chicken breasts for even cooking. If using frozen, increase the cooking time and check the internal temperature carefully to ensure doneness.
Can I prepare this dish without a crock pot?
Yes, you can bake the chicken and sauce in a covered dish at 350°F for about 1 hour or until the chicken reaches 165°F. Check periodically to avoid drying out.
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Crock Pot Angel Chicken Recipe
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Crock Pot Angel Chicken is a comforting and easy-to-make dinner featuring tender boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked slow in a creamy Italian-inspired sauce. Served over angel hair pasta, this dish combines seared chicken, a rich cream cheese and soup-based sauce, and flavorful seasonings to create a satisfying meal perfect for busy nights.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 large chicken breasts)
- 1–2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 4 ounces (½ block) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup (recommend low or no sodium)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ cup chicken broth (recommend low or no sodium)
- 1 (0.7 ounce) packet Good Seasons Dry Italian Salad Dressing Mix (or your favorite mix)
Pasta and Garnish
- 16 ounce box angel hair pasta
- Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- Cracked black pepper (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Sear the chicken: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and add 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil, swirling to coat the pan. Season the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper. Once the pan is hot, add the chicken and sear each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Remove from heat.
- Prepare the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add cream of chicken soup, minced garlic, chicken broth, and Italian dressing mix. Whisk until fully combined to create a creamy sauce.
- Assemble in crock pot: Spray the inside of the crock pot with non-stick spray. Place the seared chicken breasts into the bottom of the crock pot and pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken.
- Cook the chicken low and slow: Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Longer cooking will make the chicken more tender and it may begin to fall apart if cooked longer.
- Cook the pasta: Shortly before serving, prepare the angel hair pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
- Serve: Serve the chicken breasts whole or shredded. You can toss the pasta with some sauce or spoon the chicken and sauce over the pasta. Garnish with chopped parsley, cracked pepper, and grated Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- If sensitive to sodium, use no sodium or low sodium cream of chicken soup and chicken broth, then season to taste with salt.
- Cooking on high is not recommended as it may not tenderize the chicken as well; if needed, cook on high 1.5-2 hours until chicken reaches 165°F.
- Always confirm chicken doneness with a meat thermometer to ensure safe internal temperature.
- Longer cooking times may cause the chicken to become very tender or shred easily.
- Refer to FAQ for substitutions and additional tips.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Crock Pot Angel Chicken, slow cooker chicken, creamy chicken dinner, angel hair pasta, easy crock pot recipes, Italian chicken, comfort food
