Oh yes — slow cooker chicken and shells is the ultimate cozy, creamy, one-pot dinner. 🐔🍝
Tender chicken, tender pasta, and a rich, cheesy sauce — perfect for busy nights.
🍲 Slow Cooker Chicken and Shells
🛒 Ingredients
- 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 8 oz medium pasta shells (uncooked)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
- Optional: ½ cup frozen peas or spinach
🔪 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the Slow Cooker
- Place chicken, broth, soup, onion, garlic, and seasonings in the slow cooker.
- Stir to combine.
2️⃣ Cook the Chicken
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours, until chicken is tender.
3️⃣ Add the Pasta
- Remove chicken and shred with forks.
- Stir shredded chicken back into the slow cooker.
- Add uncooked pasta shells and optional vegetables.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 20–25 minutes, until pasta is tender (check occasionally to prevent overcooking).
4️⃣ Add Cheese
- Stir in shredded cheese until melted and creamy.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
🍽 Serve With
- Fresh parsley or basil on top
- Garlic bread or a side salad
✨ Tips
- Use small to medium pasta (like shells or elbows) so it cooks evenly.
- For a thicker sauce: mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water, stir in during last 10 minutes.
- Can swap cream of mushroom for cream of chicken or cream of celery.
If you want, I can also give you:
- A cheesy broccoli version
- A keto-friendly chicken and pasta substitute
- Or a one-pot stove-top shortcut version 🐔🧀
