Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti is made with tender shredded chicken, diced mushrooms, and slurpy pasta noodles in a creamy, zesty sauce. It comes together in the slow cooker for a comfort food meal that we all look forward to at the end of the day!
This chicken spaghetti crockpot meal is an easy, family favorite that is always in our dinner rotation. It takes elements of the best chicken crockpot recipes and combines them with a creamy, cheesy pasta, giving us one of the best comfort meals to date!
You know, when someone asks, if you were deserted on an island, what’s one appliance you would have to have? Well, for me, it would have to be a crockpot! I just think slow cooker meals are so practical, and whenever I make a meal in one, I know it’s going to pretty much cook itself.
This crockpot chicken spaghetti recipe is super dependable. It’s always easy to make, makes great leftovers, and reheats really well. It just so happens to be delicious, too!
Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy to make. Perfect for busy weeknights.
- Customizable. I know not everyone loves mushrooms!
- Tons of flavor. Creamy, cheesy, and zesty in every bite.
- Reheat for lunch. Leftovers reheat beautifully throughout the week.
Helpful Tools
- Slow cooker
- Tongs
- Veggie Chopper
- Chicken Shredder – two forks works, of course, but this is fun & I’m kinda hooked.
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Trim the chicken of any excess fat. You’ll cook them whole first, and then shred.
- Yellow onion, garlic, and brown mushrooms: Finely dice the mushrooms, so they deliver more flavor and less texture. If you hate mushrooms, you can skip them.
- Rotel: If you like your crockpot chicken spaghetti a bit spicy, go ahead and use hot Rotel. Otherwise, opt for the Original or Mild versions.
- Chicken broth: The chicken broth provides moisture to the chicken so it cooks without burning. It also gives it flavor and acts as a base to the sauce.
- Spaghetti noodles: Cooked separately to al dente. This is important, as they’ll continue to cook a bit once mixed in with the sauce.
- Cream cheese and sour cream: Add a thick and creamy consistency to the dish.
- Seasoning: Garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese: If you have a block of sharp cheddar, grate it fresh for best results.
- Chopped parsley: For garnish. I always like to elevate even the most casual dishes with some fresh herbs.
How to make Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Jump- Step One: Add the chicken breasts, onions, mushrooms, garlic, Rotel, and seasoning to the basin of your crockpot. Pour in the broth and stir everything to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours (which I recommend for chicken breast) or HIGH for 4 hours (totally doable, but second choice – you know your crockpot best).
- Step Two: Once the chicken is fully cooked, use a pair of tongs to transfer the chicken to a cutting board. You can shred them with two forks or dice them into cubes. Return the chicken to the pot and stir in the cream cheese. Put the over back on and cook on HIGH for 30 more minutes.
- Step Three: During this time, cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente, then drain and add it to the crockpot. Stir in the sour cream and cheddar cheese, cover, and cook for another 15 minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Step Four: Let it sit for 10 minutes, uncovered, and once thickened, garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy!
Every slow cooker runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own slow cooker and adjusted as needed.
What to serve it with
All this needs is a basket of fresh bread on the table to mop up the sauce with! We love one-hour dinner rolls, copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls, and Little Caesars breadsticks with our pasta dishes.
If you want a side of vegetables or salad, you could do an easy chopped salad or a classic Caesar salad.
- If mushrooms aren’t your thing, you can omit them. Or you can mince them teeny tiny so you don’t notice them as much.
- Let the chicken spaghetti sit for 10 minutes. Doing this gives the sauce a chance to thicken. Toss before serving.
- Reserve a bit of the pasta water. If needed, add it to the crockpot to thin out the sauce. Start with a few tablespoons and go from there.
- Swap the breasts for boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Use original, mild, or hot rotel.
- You can also use a can of diced tomatoes if you don’t have Rotel. Then, add diced bell peppers and jalapenos for added flavor and texture.
Storage & Reheating
How to store leftovers
Keep any leftover chicken spaghetti in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheating Instructions
Reheat it on the stovetop and add a splash of cream or broth to loosen up the sauce. You can also use the microwave.
Need more easy crockpot pasta recipes? Try these:
Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Pasta
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Click here to view my entire collection of crockpot recipes.
Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 4 ounces brown mushrooms finely minced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 10 ounces Rotel
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 4 ounces cream cheese cubed
- 1 pound spaghetti noodles
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- fresh chopped parsley optional for garnish
Instructions
- Spray a 6-quart or larger slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- To the slow cooker, add the trimmed chicken breast, onions, mushrooms, garlic, Rotel, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to the crockpot.1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1 small yellow onion, 4 ounces brown mushrooms, 3 cloves garlic, 10 ounces Rotel, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Pour in chicken broth and stir to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.2 cups chicken broth
- Use tong to remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and dice it into cubes or two forks to shred it. Return it to the crockpot.
- Add the cream cheese to the slow cooker, replace the cover and continue cooking on HIGH for 30 minutes.4 ounces cream cheese
- While the cream cheese is melting, cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente.1 pound spaghetti noodles
- Drain the spaghetti and add it to the crockpot with the sour cream and cheddar cheese.½ cup sour cream, 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Cover and cook on HIGH for another 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
- Remove lid and let it set for 10 minutes before serving to thicken. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired. Enjoy!fresh chopped parsley
Notes
- Finely mincing the mushrooms helps add flavor without a noticeable mushroom texture (look for cremini). If you don’t like mushrooms, they can be skipped.
- When cooking the noodles, stop at al dente (1-3 mins before the package states) & reserve a bit of pasta water. The noodles will continue to soften as they sit in the slow cooker.
- Letting the chicken spaghetti rest uncovered for 10 minutes before serving will help thicken the sauce and improve texture. Give the pasta a good toss before serving.
- When tossing the pasta at the end, pour some reserved starchy pasta water to help bring the sauce together. Start by adding 3 tablespoons of water and add more depending on your preference.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used instead of breasts.
- Original, mild, or hot Rotel works. If you don’t have Rotel, a can of diced tomatoes will also work.
- Add diced bell peppers or jalapenos for added flavor and texture.
- Store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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