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Slow cooker garlic parmesan chicken pasta is made with ready-made garlic parmesan sauce, fresh chicken breasts, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and tender pasta noodles combined into a creamy, cheesy, garlicky comforting pasta dish. This crock pot meal is perfect for getting the whole family running to the dinner table!
Crockpot Buffalo Wild Wings Parmesan Garlic Chicken Pasta
If you love the flavors in my Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Potatoes, you’ll love them in pasta form.
If you’ve ever been to Buffalo Wild Wings and have enjoyed their creamy parmesan garlic sauce for dipping, then get ready to dive into a bowl of pasta using that same sauce! It’s wildly delicious.
Slow cooker garlic parmesan chicken pasta is creamy, cheesy, and garlicky made with minimal prep, cooked low and slow until the chicken falls apart and once the pasta is cooked, it gets added to the heavenly mixture.
Serve with garlic bread and a simple side salad and you’ve got an easy, hearty, and satisfying dinner your entire family won’t be able to get enough of.
If you need a faster skillet version, try my garlic parmesan chicken and potatoes.
Why you’ll love this Parmesan Chicken Pasta recipe
The flavors – The combination of garlic and parmesan has always paired well together. The sauce also has herbs and spices in it which elevates the flavors. Add in the tanginess of cream cheese and the umami briny flavors of parmesan, and it’s irresistible!
Simple ingredients – Everything in this dish can be found at your local grocery store if you don’t already have it on hand. If you can’t find the sauce, it can be found online, or make a homemade version.
Perfect meal – There’s nothing like cozying up to a creamy bowl of pasta at the end of the day.
Easy to feed a crowd – This crockpot recipe is an effortless way to feed up to 6 people! It is a family favorite on busy weeknights.
Tools you’ll need
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- Chicken Breasts: Use boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of any excess fat. Pat them dry with paper towels before adding them to the crockpot.
- Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce: Any brand of Parmesan Garlic sauce can be used. Buffalo wild wings, Sweet Baby Ray’s, or any store brand are great options.
- Milk: This will help to thin out the thick, rich cream cheese.
- Cream Cheese: Cut into cubes, this tangy element adds thickness and creaminess to the sauce.
- Parmesan Cheese: Shredded or shaved, preferably fresh from a block. Adds even more flavor.
- Rotini Noodles: I love using rotini because of all the nooks and crannies available to hold all the sauce, but you can use your favorite shaped pasta. Any can be used.
- Parsley: Optional for garnish.
How to make Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
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 to the basin of the crockpot and pour the entire bottle of sauce overtop. Add the milk to the empty sauce bottle, close the lid, and shake to get all of the remaining sauce out of there. Pour the milk from the bottle over the chicken.
- Step Two: Place the cubes of cream cheese over the chicken, then cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours until the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165F. Cooking time can vary greatly depending on slow cooker age and model.
- Step Three: Remove the chicken once it’s cooked and use two forks to shred it into small pieces, then return it to the sauce mixture.
- Step Four: Stir in the parmesan cheese until melted. Meanwhile, cook pasta separately according to the pasta directions. I like a bit of a bite to my pasta, so I usually cook it al dente. Once the pasta has been cooked and drained, pour pasta directly into the crockpot
- Step Five: Garnish with fresh parsley and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. 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 with Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
With any pasta dish, we always love to have a basket of one hour dinner rolls on the table. For this garlicky cheesy dish, garlic cheese bombs are also kind of a must!
For a simple vegetable side dish, lemon basil roasted veggies, garlic green beans or sautéed asparagus are great additions and so is this easy chopped veggie side salad.
This is the type of recipe that pairs well with so many side dishes!
- Add some veggies! Toss in some frozen broccoli, cauliflower, sliced mushrooms, carrots, or peas into the pot an hour before serving.
- If you want to add spinach, allow it to wilt in the heat for about 10 minutes before serving.
- Make it a bit spicier by adding in a dash of red pepper flakes.
- To make this even cheesier, sprinkle in some mozzarella cheese with the Parmesan.
- To make this gluten-free use any type of gluten free pasta you prefer.
- Do not forget to salt your pasta water for flavor.
- Do not use spreadable cream cheese. It contains more water than the block of cream cheese which will alter the consistency, making it too thin.
How to reheat & store Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
How to store leftovers
Once completely cooled, store leftovers in an airtight container.
How long will crockpot Buffalo Wild Wings parmesan garlic chicken pasta last in the fridge?
Up to 3 days, when kept airtight.
Can I freeze creamy pasta?
I don’t recommend it just because of how the consistency of cream and other dairy products changes once thawed.
However, I would rather prevent waste, so you technically can! Keep it in a freezer-safe container and keep frozen for up to 3 months.
Defrost in the fridge overnight, then reheat. Add a splash of cream, milk, or splash of chicken broth to thin out the sauce and adjust the consistency.
How to heat leftovers
You can microwave single bowls or use a pot or skillet on the stovetop for larger portions.
FAQs
Can I make this in the Instant Pot?
Yes, easily! Use the saute function to heat oil and brown the chicken.
Deglaze the pot with chicken broth, and add the pasta on top of the chicken so it’s covered with the broth. Pressure cook the chicken for 3 minutes and quickly release the pressure.
Shred the chicken, press the saute button, and add and stir the remaining ingredients in until combined.
What other types of pasta work in this dish?
Most medium-sized pasta will work. Some great options are bowtie pasta, rotini, fusilli, or penne pasta.
Can I cook the pasta in the crockpot?
No, cook it separately. As the pasta cooks it absorbs the liquid, and there’s not enough liquid in this recipe to spare. The pasta would absorb too much of the sauce leaving the dish dry and the pasta mushy.
Can I add frozen chicken to the slow cooker?
I recommend thawing it first. Slow cookers cook…slow. That leaves meat sitting at unsafe room temperatures for too long. It can also will water down the mixture, and it won’t absorb flavors as well.
Need more slow cooker pasta ideas? Try these:
Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Alfredo
3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan with Tortellini
Click here for my entire collection of pasta recipes.
Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 12 ounces garlic parmesan wing sauce
- 1 cup milk I use 2%
- 8 ounces cream cheese cubed
- 4 ounces parmesan cheese shaved or shredded
- 16 ounce rotini noodles
- parsley optional garnish
Instructions
- Trim the chicken breasts and add them to the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker.
- Pour the entire bottle of garlic parmesan sauce over the chicken.
- Pour the milk into the sauce bottle, close the lid, and shake to get out any remaining sauce. Pour the milk into the slow cooker.
- Place the cubed cream cheese on top of the chicken.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the slow cooker, shred it and return to the sauce.
- Add the parmesan cheese to the slow cooker and stir to melt it.
- Cook and drain the pasta according to the directions on the box.
- Pour the cooked pasta into the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Garnish with additional parmesan cheese and parsley and serve.
Notes
- Try adding frozen broccoli an hour before serving.
- Any pasta shape can be used.
- Any brand of Parmesan Garlic sauce can be used (my market has Buffalo Wild Wings, Sweet Baby Ray’s, and store brand)
- Store leftovers in an airtight container 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.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag me on Instagram @melissa_pplates so I can see!Originally published March 17, 2023; photos updated April 12, 2024
This was one of my favorite things I’ve made in a long time. Our dinner plans changed, so I made the crockpot stuff one day, then boiled the pasta and combined it with sauce mixture that I reheated on the stove top the next day. Just added a little more milk & some pasta water while reheating. Worked out great! I also added an extra chicken breast and thought it was a perfect amount of chicken. Definitely making this again, so easy and so yummy.
Love hearing that, thanks Shelby!