Slow Cooker Italian Chicken is a recipe is a family favorite recipe and has been perfected over the years. This dump-and-go slow cooker recipe requires just four simple ingredients: chicken breasts, a packet of zesty Italian dressing mix, cream cheese, and chicken broth. With just 5 minutes of prep time, this recipe cooks in 4-6 hours and serves 6 people. It’s a family-favorite dish that’s delicious served over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
Slow cooker meals are so convenient for busy families and can make the best juicy chicken the whole family can enjoy to keep you on budget and eating healthy.
- Dump and go for easy cooking.
- Only simple ingredients are needed.
- The entire meal is cooked in the bottom of your slow cooker.
“I made this last night over rice, and it was amazing!! Will be making again!!” – Randi
Try this recipe paired with our favorite Broccoli Salad for an extra filling and delicious meal.
Key Ingredients:
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are our go-to protein choice for this slow cooker recipe, but you can also use chicken thighs.
Season the chicken using a zesty Italian dressing packet mixed with cream of chicken soup.
Serve the cooked creamy chicken with your favorite pasta and top it with Parmesan cheese.
Equipment Needed:
How to make Slow Cooker Italian Chicken:
- Place chicken into the bottom of a crock pot and generously sprinkle Italian dressing mix over top of the raw chicken, making sure to get all the sides of the chicken for even seasoning.
- Combine the softened cream cheese and cream of chicken soup in a small bowl and whisk until smooth, and spoon or pour it over the top of the chicken.
- Cook the chicken on low for 4-6 hours. Cooking on high is not preferred with the creamy sauce since it is more likely to burn.
- Once the chicken is done, remove it from the slow cooker and shred it with 2 forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and mix it in with the creamy sauce before serving.
- Serve chicken over cooked pasta. Garnish with chopped parsley and shredded parmesan cheese (optional).
Tips and Variations
- For a creamier sauce: Stir in 4oz cream cheese during the last 30 minutes of cooking, or add Greek yogurt for even more protein.
- Thickening the sauce: If the sauce is too thin, create a cornstarch slurry with 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon cold water and add it into the slow cooker during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick.
- More Flavor: Add some sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh garlic, or a little onion powder for even more flavor. Add in broccoli or bacon bits for another great idea.
Storage Instructions
Scoop the cooled chicken into an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
FAQ’s for Crockpot Italian Chicken
Serve chicken over cooked pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes. We love to garnish this with shredded parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley.
Yes, make the chicken, shred it and mix it into the creamy sauce and then place it in an airtight container and serve ti over rice or pasta when you are ready to eat.
If you want to make this recipe in the Instant Pot, you can! Check out this recipe for the exact instructions.
What to serve with this Italian Chicken Recipe:
Italian Fresh Green Salad or Parmesan Crusted Asparagus are great side options.
Think about making this Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe. The chicken would be delicious to served over these mashed potatoes instead of pasta.
Oven Roasted Green Beans are super simple to whip up for a fresh side dish.
Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (1 ounce) packet zesty Italian dressing mix
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 (10.75 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
- 16 ounces pasta, (we like rigatoni or bow tie pasta)
Equipment
Instructions
- Place chicken in a slow cooker and sprinkle Italian dressing mix over top.
- Combine cream cheese and cream of chicken soup in a small bowl and whisk until smooth and spoon over chicken.
- Cook on low 4-6 hours.
- Once chicken is done, remove from the slow cooker and shred with 2 forks. Return to slow cooker and mix in with the rest of the sauce before serving.
- Serve chicken over cooked pasta. Garnish with chopped parsley and shredded parmesan cheese (optional).
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
Hi,
I am a new follower from the blog hop. Please come follow me back
I LOVE this recipe, and so does the rest of my family!
Yummo!
xo
i do something similar to this but with Philadelphia cooking creme instead of the dressing mix and cream cheese. any flavor is good!
Sure to be a hit in my house – thanks for a great recipe!
Mary
This is in my crockpot right now!
I made this last night over rice and it was amazing!! Will be making again!!
I’m going to try ranch dressing since I don’t have Italian hope it turns out just as good 🙂 post back later
Not to be a jerk, but this recipe is word for word the same as The girl who ate everything including the stuff in the parenthesis, and her’s was posted two years prior. If you are going to copy and past you really should give the source credit.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Yummy! I have a new favorite dinner! And so easy! Thanks for sharing!
Here’s a recipe I found somewhere for Italian Chicken. I had pork one day but not chicken so I used that instead and it still came out good. 2 lbs. of pork or 6 chicken breast halves cut into bite size pieces. 1 cup of Italian salad dressing and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese. Stir all in the crock and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. Great with mashed potatoes.
Has anyone ever tried adding mushrooms or broccoli to this recipe? Making it tonight and thinking of adding mushrooms!!!
Can you use sour cream instead of cream cheese?
We looked up what a good substitute would be for cream cheese and we found that 1 cup pureed cottage cheese OR 1 cup plain yogurt, strained overnight in a cheesecloth works.
Made this last night and they kicked the pot. Super easy and delicious. Thank you 🙂
Amazingly easy and super delicious! Steamed some broccoli to go with it.
Just wondering about the cooking time – was this using frozen or thawed chicken? Thanks!
It was thawed. You could put them in frozen and it would take closer to 6 – 7 hours.
Maybe you should publish and blog your own healthy recipes??? You seem to have enough time.
I’m kind of cracking up here at some of the people’s comments about not wanting to be a jerk! I have made this recipe for 20 years for my family which was merely told to me by my friend. I wrote it down myself in my own words . . . Exactly the same as the above recipe! So, should they be giving me credit? I think not. Good job, Six Sister’s Stuff. I’m glad I was able to find my recipe through you!
Thanks Momma T for the recipe! 🙂 This recipe has been in our family for a long time too! Have a great week!
Cyd (mom of the Six Sisters)
Its so sad that people have to make time to leave rude posts comments.
If you didnt want to hurt someone you wouldn’t say it.
Cant wait to try the recipe today! Its so nice to let someone else do the thinking.
Lots of times people end up having the exact same recipes and part of cooking is being free
to change things to our own liking. It doesn’t make anyone a genius.
Grow up people.
Thanks for the recipe 🙂
” Combine cream cheese and cream of chicken soup in a small post over low heat ” I love your recipes and how fast and easy they are. being a mom to a 6,2, and newborn your recipes have helped so can spend more time with my children and chores. I quoted from your recipe due to I thought it was a funny quote and I thought it would bring a laugh to your day, I do have days like that.
I added a bag of broccoli to this recipe and it was great! Also, I’ve put it on top of egg noodles, and then put the leftovers on top of a salad for a lighter option, the creamy italian makes for great salad dressing. Awesome lunch with the leftovers!
Do you know of a good recipe to substitute condensed cream soups? I swear I saw a link to one on here before and now I can’t find it.
I tried this recipe and it burned in my crockpot. It’s like there wasn’t enough liquid for it to cook in. Can you tell me if I did something wrong. Or what I could do the next time to prevent that from happening again.
We have never had a problem with this recipe. Your slow cooker may be hotter on the low setting. You didn’t say how long you cooked it for. We usually cook for about 4 hours on low. Some slow cookers take a little longer. When you figure out how your slow cooker works you can adjust accordingly.
I have made this dish dozens of times now……..a crowd favorite to say the least. Simple and delicious.
I add broccoli all the time! Toss in for the last 30 min to 1 hour before finished. Love it!
Has anyone tried making this in the instant pot?? Wondering if I could use it in there instead
Wonderful!
I had to make a couple of substitutions, due to limited availability of condensed soups in the quarantine, and because I misread the recipe and thought that this called for a bottle of italian dressing… but it worked out great! I used 1 can of cream of chicken, mixed it with the bottle of italian dressing and the cream cheese, and cooked the chicken in the mixture. I added some steamed broccoli after I mixed in the pasta, because… vegetables. Easy peasy, and very tasty! will definitely make again!
I have this recipe quite a bit and family is always happy to have it. Served on pasta or mashed potatoes. One of the Easiest slow cooker and freezer recipes.
What is the equivalent (in pounds) of 4 chicken breasts?
Most chicken breasts weigh about 6-8 ounces. So maybe 1 1/2 – 2 pounds. Just depends on the size. But with this recipe you are ok on the size.
I had made several freezer meals of this recipe a few months back without ever having tried it. Popped one in the instant pot tonight. Oh my lanta! Absolutely delicious! Quick and easy comfort food in less than 30 minutes! Yum!
This was a tasty, easy recipe. My husband immediately said “can you save this to your “favorites” interest board lol! Next time we will add more chicken, as we prefer a slightly meatier pasta for this. Overall great!!
So glad you liked it! It’s easy and delicious. A family favorite!
I made this and it turned out as a soupy mess, unfortunately (it smelled good though). I watched the video first and it said to use 1 can of cream of chicken, but I see now in the recipe it says 2. Could that be what caused the “soupy”ness instead of creaminess?