Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo

February 15, 2019 by Melissa 54 Comments

This Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo is so easy to make. Tender juicy chicken breasts cooked right in a flavorful homemade alfredo sauce and the pasta cooks right in the slow cooker!

My one-pot chicken alfredo is one of my most popular recipes, and one of our family favorites. I’ve been working on a slow cooker version for a while and I’m so happy with how it turned out. I love this slow cooker chicken alfredo recipe because there is no pre cooking and the pasta cooks in the slow cooker too. It’s rich, filling and perfectly creamy. The best part of this recipe is that the alfredo sauce is completely homemade. Jarred alfredo sauce just cannot compete with the amazing flavor of homemade!

Crockpot Chicken Alfredo

Whether you call it a Crock Pot recipe or a slow cooker recipe, this is the perfect way to make an easy family-friendly dinner! Start with a quick sear on the chicken, don’t cook the chicken all the way through. Just add some color to the chicken, this will equate to flavor in the Crockpot Chicken Alfredo.

Homemade Alfredo Sauce

This homemade alfredo is so simple! Once you have put the chicken breasts in the slow cooker, add heavy cream, low sodium chicken broth, whole garlic cloves, butter and salt and pepper. The chicken breasts will simmer all day in the homemade cream sauce and both will add even more flavor to the other.

How to Cook Pasta in a Slow Cooker

I’ve tried several slow cooker recipes with pasta and have never been satisfied with the texture. It just turns into a mushy mess. The secret to successful pasta in the slow cooker is to add the pasta at the end. It just doesn’t need to simmer for hours. In this recipe, I add the pasta for the last thirty minutes of cooking and cook it on high along with a cup of hot water. Since slow cooker times can vary so much, you may want to check yours at the twenty minute mark just to make sure it doesn’t over cook.

Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for best results. I like to use thismicroplaneto grate my parmesan. Shredded store bought parmesan cheese has additives that keep it from clumping in the bag. This can also keep the parmesan from melting smoothly in alfredo recipes.

4.98 from 35 votes

Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

4 hrs 30 mins

Total Time

4 hrs 35 mins

This Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo is so easy to make. Tender juicy chicken breasts cooked right in a flavorful homemade alfredo sauce and the pasta cooks right in the slow cooker!

Course:Dinner

Cuisine:American

Keyword:Slow Cooker

Servings: 6

Ingredients

1tablespoonolive oil
2poundschicken breasts
3cupsof heavy cream
4cupsof low sodium chicken broth
4tablespoonsbutter
2clovesgarlic smashed
1poundof uncooked penne pasta
1cuphot water
5ozfreshly shredded parmesan cheese
kosher salt and black pepper
garlic powder

Instructions

Pat chicken breasts dry and season with salt, pepper and a sprinkle of garlic powder. Heat olive oil over high heat and quickly sear chicken breasts on both sides.
Add chicken breasts, heavy cream, chicken broth, butter, garlic cloves and one teaspoon of kosher salt and several turns of freshly ground black pepper to slow cooker.
Cook on low for about 4 hours or high for 2-3 hours, until chicken has reached 165 degrees.
Remove chicken from slow cooker and set aside to cool and slice.
Stir in 1 cup of hot water and uncooked penne pasta, cover and cook on high for about 30 minutes. Just until pasta is tender.
Once pasta is tender, stir in parmesan cheese, shredded chicken and additional salt and black pepper to taste.

This is delicious served with a simple side of steamed or roasted broccoli!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Jenifer
January 7, 2015 at 12:32 am

I made the chicken alfredo for dinner tonight and it was delicious! I seasoned with salt, pepper, italian seasoning, and garlic powder before serving. My fiancé was in awe and thought it came from a restaurant. Thank you for sharing this!
Reply
- Melissa
  January 17, 2015 at 4:40 pm
  
  Thanks, Jennifer! Sounds really great, I’m glad you impressed him:0)
  Reply
sherrell Clark
February 15, 2015 at 4:39 pm

I tried this tonight Omg! !!! The sauce is delicious thank you so much for this recipe
Reply
- Melissa
  February 19, 2015 at 7:58 pm
  
  I’m so glad! Thanks for letting me know!
  Reply
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Zoe
April 24, 2015 at 1:32 pm

Looks delish. Can’t wait to give it a try.
Reply
Tereza
May 2, 2015 at 8:57 pm

Is it possible to cook the pasta separate? It took almost hour for pasta to cook. It taste very good. I just dont know where I messed up because after adding parmasan and chicken , it was all so dry.
Reply
Maisie
December 1, 2015 at 1:13 pm

This turned out great but I doubled recipe to make entire box of pasta (used rigatoni) and added 2 tablespoons of minced garlic to give it a more traditional Alfredo flavor. Also keep some extra Parmesan on hand because I added about another half cup, but my family can never get enough Parmesan so this is a taste preference.
Reply
Cassandra
December 18, 2015 at 11:43 am

I LOVE chicken alfredo, and this recipe was easy and delicious. I seasoned my chicken breasts with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic powder before adding them to the crockpot. I also added some minced garlic to the crockpot. FABULOUS!
Reply
Tricia
January 28, 2016 at 2:24 pm

This is going in my weekly rotation! I doubled the recipe for my large family and all the kids and my mom gobbled it up. There was none left! Thanks for the great recipe. It’s a keeper 🙂
Reply
Braden
March 25, 2017 at 2:39 am

Hello, love the one pot version of this. I’ve cooked it many times. Just a quick question. Would I be able to switch out the penne pasta with fettuccine noodles with the same results?
Thanks!
Reply
Rachel
October 22, 2017 at 11:54 am

Mine is in the slow cooker now! I am going to add broccoli to it as well.
Reply
marie bellavance
December 12, 2017 at 2:36 pm

I tried this today. The cream curdled and separated from the chicken stock which looks super disgusting. Is it because I used half and half instead of cream, would that make a difference??
Reply
- Melissa
  December 13, 2017 at 11:44 am
  
  Hi Marie,
  I’m sorry, yes you need to use cream vs half and half.
  Reply
Kristy
January 20, 2018 at 4:34 pm

Made this recipe exactly as posted. This is the BEST chicken alfredo recipe I have ever had!!! Even the hubby gave it 2 thumbs up!! This will be my go to recipe from now on!
How many calories per serving???
Reply
Brenda
February 24, 2018 at 10:02 am

Have this in the slow cooker but with beef stew meat.
Reply
Heather
July 22, 2018 at 6:32 am

Can I cut up the raw chicken first, then cook it for the required time? Also, do I have to remove the cooked cut up chicken while the noodles cook or can I leave it in there? Would be a time saver but I’m not sure if chicken would be way overcooked.
Reply
- Clare
  October 3, 2020 at 4:03 pm
  
  Hi! New to the slow cooking world but have been very successful thus far! Tried out this recipe and I am at a loss as to what went wrong. The end result was just a cream/broth liquid which chunks of melted Parmesan. I read and re read the recipe so many times and cannot figure out what I missed. I’m sorry but I won’t be using this recipe again.
  Reply
  - Melissa
    October 4, 2020 at 10:49 am
    
    Thanks for leaving a thoughtful comment. It sounds like the parmesan cheese seized up instead of melting, which is what can happen when the cheese is added to a boiling liquid. Do you think that could be the case? I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you. Slow cookers do vary widely in cooking temperature so it’s hard to account for every possibility.
    Reply
Natalya
August 14, 2018 at 10:36 am

Can you use fettuccine noodles?
Reply
Michelle
October 1, 2018 at 3:42 pm

Wow. This is the best chicken Alfredo. Added.2 cloves minced garlic and a pinch of Italian seasoning. Sauce is creamy and smooth, not thick and pasty. Grate your own cheese to keep the sauce grit free!! Served with sauteed broccoli and the kids gobbled it up!! Thank you for a wonderful and easy recipe.
Reply
Allyson
October 14, 2018 at 2:34 pm
See Also
Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe

I just made this (still eating it now!) I expected it to be good, but not THIS good! It’s amazing! This is definitely going to be a regular meal for my family.
Reply
Karl
February 16, 2019 at 3:47 am

Looks so simple and so tasty
Reply
Connie
February 24, 2019 at 3:10 pm

Does this recipe have an instant pot conversion by chance???
Reply
Shelaine Ress
April 26, 2019 at 4:26 pm

Made this yesterday. It was awesome!! I checked the chicken after 3 hours and it practically fell apart when I cut it. Sooo tender and delish!! Was so eager to eat it, I forgot the parmesan cheese at the end – so will have to make again to try it with the cheese!!
Reply
Aimee Shugarman
June 19, 2019 at 3:15 pm

SO easy and perfect. The ultimate comfort food that tastes amazing!
Reply
Beth Pierce
June 19, 2019 at 3:20 pm

This is my kind of meal! Your presentation is restaurant worthy, indeed! Delicious!
Reply
Becky Hardin
June 19, 2019 at 8:50 pm

My favorite way to cook Chicken Alfredo!! Yum!
Reply
Taylor
June 21, 2019 at 5:27 am

The absolute perfect weeknight dinner! Love that it’s made in the slow cooker!
Reply
Shelley
October 7, 2019 at 12:47 am

Turned out even better than I expected!! Super easy! I did use twice the amount of garlic since we live garlic and I added 1 table spoon of Asiago cheese to the parmasian. I had to cook the noodles for an additional 10 minutes but wasn’t a big deal. Better than hanging out at the stove to watch water boil! When the noodles were first done the sauce was on the thin side (still super good) but when I let everything sit for about 20 minutes it thickened up. Was absolutely perfect!! Thank you for the recipe!!
Reply
- Melissa
  October 9, 2019 at 11:30 am
  
  Sounds delicious! Thanks Shelley!
  Reply
Monica
October 22, 2019 at 10:53 am

This is the second time in my life I ate chicken Alfredo, and the first time (using another recipe) was just meh. So I only chose to try it again because I had the corresponding ingredients in the pantry.
Oh. My. God. I haven’t had pasta this good since the last time I was in a true Italian restaurant.
The sauce is so creamy, so flavorful, and the shredded chicken was so tender…
I had to change two things: replaced a chicken breast with 300g of lardons (~bacon) because I didn’t have enough chicken; didn’t put the parmesan because I didn’t have fresh one.
Still, I bookmarked this recipe and will show it off next month when my in-laws come for a few days!
Thank you for sharing!
Reply
Tammy
December 15, 2019 at 2:15 pm

Made this for my family and it was delicious! Everyone loved it and now they are asking me to make it for a party. This will be a go to recipe at my house! I did not add the water as the sauce was already runny. It did thicken after it cooled a bit.
Reply
Marlene
January 3, 2020 at 1:58 pm

Amazing, easy and delicious!
Reply
Rebecca Goodwin
January 9, 2020 at 11:36 am

I made this for the first time last week. The flavor is fantastic! Overall, the texture was wonderful. It was a little thin when I served it but I think we were just too impatient. The house had smelled too good for too long. 😀 I’ll try letting it sit for a bit before serving next time to see if it thickens. The (very) small amount that I had leftover reheated perfectly! Thank you!
Reply
Lacie
February 9, 2020 at 4:43 pm

This is very good but is there a way to thicken up the sauce some?
Reply
- Melissa
  February 11, 2020 at 11:00 am
  
  You can try reducing the chicken broth or the hot water by 1/4 of a cup.
  Reply
Maureen
February 19, 2020 at 12:04 pm

I decided I should comment because there is something no one has mentioned yet … this is excellent as leftovers too! Usually I never keep Alfredo because you just can’t reheat it – it separates and it just is not good. However, this reheated beautifully and we snacked on it for a few days! Both kids and adults alike in our family loved this!
Reply
Jenna
March 5, 2020 at 7:29 am

I’m new to crockpot cooking and cooking in general because I don’t like to cook at all lol. Made this last night (only my second meal in the crockpot ever!) and it was absolutely delicious! Like others have mentioned, the sauce was a tiny bit thinner than I expected but that didn’t really matter because it was just so darn good! Thank you for sharing, we will definitely be making this again!
Reply
Jacinthe Roberts
March 16, 2020 at 4:27 pm

Made this several times already and it’s or obably the best Chicken Alfredo recipe we’ve ever had! Instead of heavy cream I use a milk/butter/cornstarch substitute since it’s a bit easier on the stomach. I boil the pasta separately because we prefer linguine or spaghetti more than penne, and we can also adjust the sauce/pasta ratio to our preference. Thank you!
Reply
Carrie Robinson
March 31, 2020 at 1:09 pm

This looks so good! Bonus points for being made in the slow cooker. 🙂
Reply
katerina @ diethood.com
March 31, 2020 at 1:26 pm

A family favorite! I can’t wait to make this for my family! They would love it!
Reply
Valentina
March 31, 2020 at 1:53 pm

This slow cooker chicken Alfredo pasta recipe is my go-to pasta dinner recipe! 🙂
Reply
Krissy Allori
March 31, 2020 at 2:47 pm

This looks so good. I love the idea of making my favorite alfredo in the crockpot. Not to mention the great leftovers. Thanks!
Reply
wilhelmina
May 4, 2020 at 10:39 am

This was so creamy and delicious! Totally amazing recipe!
Reply
Ashley F
May 4, 2020 at 11:43 am

The best way to make chicken alfredo! Came out so tasty too!
Reply
Diane C
May 20, 2020 at 4:43 pm

I made this today and loved it, but I didn’t have enough heavy cream, so I Found a recipe to make a cream substitute using butter and milk mixed together. Then instead of adding any hot water for the pasta, I just put it in the bubbling sauce for 30 min. After adding the chicken, I then mixed two tbls of cornstarch and enough water together then added it to the sauce. Then I added the cheese. My husband was raving!
Reply
Amanda Macik
June 22, 2020 at 3:16 pm

This was amazing- I mean it came out absolutely perfect. Without a doubt the best homemade alfredo I’ve ever made.. didn’t add the cup of water to the noodles because before you add the parmesan the sauce is slightly thin and the noodles cooked beautifully in the sauce. 30 minutes was perfect and I added broccoli in at that point as well. I did add 4 oz of cream cheese to ensure it thickened up but it wasn’t necessary. Skip the water and add the full 5 oz of parmesan, then let it simmer for another 20 and stir really well. It was honestly perfect. My husband couldn’t believe how good it was…the whole family took seconds!
Reply
Sadi
July 5, 2020 at 3:03 pm

I made this today, and it turned out amazing! I followed the recipe, but added more garlic and a little bit of fresh mozzarella and fresh broccoli and spinach. It was amazing!
Reply
Shakisa
February 18, 2021 at 5:23 pm

I made this tonight and it was a hit. I followed the recipe and added a lil more Penne I had left from another dish. Very flavorful not runny guessing the extra Penne. I did add some Tony Chachere’s seasoning on top. I also added andouille sausage. This is a keeper. Thanks for this recipe
Reply
Shawn
March 3, 2021 at 8:16 pm

I made this tonight, it’s in the crockpot now. I’m not sure what the point was for adding that last cup of hot water to the recipe. There was more than enough liquid to cook the pasta. Now my sauce is super runny and won’t thicken up. I’m still waiting, but doesn’t look like it will. Before I added it, it was super creamy and just fine. Now, I’m not sure how to get it thicker. Otherwise I feel like the recipe and the taste will be fine, I hope.
Reply
Shawnee
March 29, 2021 at 5:28 pm

Absolutely delicious! My husband doesn’t normally even like chicken Alfredo, but I really wanted to try it anyway. He had seconds and thanked me for making it! So, I’m passing the thanks on to you!!
Reply
Rachel Soule
April 1, 2021 at 12:30 pm

This is soooo good! I added broccoli. Delicious!
Reply
Pasta Lover
May 7, 2022 at 4:27 pm

Absolutely delicious! After reading the reviews, I omitted the cup of hot water & cooked the pasta in the sauce. I also added a tbls of flour to thicken it up a bit. I served it with sautéed broccolini. It was a big hit in my house. Thanks for the recipe!
Reply
Michael Rossi
February 27, 2023 at 9:04 pm

Loved it! I used boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts. Wonderful.
Reply

Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo - Crockpot Chicken Alfredo Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between chicken alfredo and fettuccine Alfredo? ›

What is the difference between chicken alfredo and chicken fettuccine? The difference is that chicken alfredo is made with a creamy sauce while chicken fettuccine can be made with any kind of sauce, creamy or otherwise.

Learn More Now ›

Can you keep chicken alfredo warm in a crockpot? ›

While your chicken roasts, boil the cavatappi noodles, and make the rich creamy sauce then throw it all together in your crock pot on the warm setting. I kept mine on warm from 2-8pm while at a volleyball tournament.

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What is the secret to thick Alfredo sauce? ›

Add Cheese

The key ingredient in Alfredo sauce is cheese—generally Parmigiano Reggiano—and lots of it. To thicken Alfredo sauce, simply add more cheese than the amount called for in a recipe until you achieve the consistency you want.

Learn More Now ›

What can I add to chicken alfredo to make it taste better? ›

Heartier herbs like thyme or oregano can be added in to simmer with the sauce. Add delicate herbs like parsley, basil, or chervil at the end to maintain their delicate, aromatic flavor. Quick tip: Swirl in a bit of leftover pesto to add another herbaceous twist to your Alfredo sauce.

Learn More Now ›

Is white sauce pasta and Alfredo sauce the same? ›

White sauce – also known as béchamel – is made with flour, milk, and butter. It's a basic sauce that can be used as a base for other sauces or as a topping for dishes like lasagna. Alfredo sauce, on the other hand, is made with butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese, and has a much richer flavour than white sauce.

Get More Info ›

What pasta is better for Alfredo? ›

Best Pasta for Alfredo and Cream Sauces: Fettuccine

Coating thick pasta with creamy sauces is also the best way to keep the noodles from clumping together in the bowl. Try using fettuccine with homemade Alfredo sauce, or one of these cream sauces that also pair well with this noodle.

Read On ›

Why does Alfredo sauce break reheated? ›

Sauces can break for any number of reasons including cooking at high heat, adding too much liquid to a hot pan, or even just waiting too long for everything to combine appropriately.

Get More Info ›

How do you keep chicken alfredo warm for a party? ›

Cover the pasta with aluminum foil then set the oven to the lowest temperature, or 220 °F (104 °C). If the heat gets up to 225 °F (107 °C), turn the heat off so the food can stay warm in the residual heat without overcooking.

View Details ›

Is it safe to leave food in the crockpot on warm overnight? ›

Given how close that temperature is to the "danger zone," it is recommended that you only keep food on the warm setting on your slow cooker for up to four hours.

What is authentic Alfredo made of? ›

Real alfredo sauce is made with 3 simple ingredients: butter, Parmesan cheese and fresh fettuccine pasta. There is absolutely no cream in this dish (cream is common in most American-style alfredo sauce recipes). Make this dish with my fresh homemade pasta, fresh sourdough pasta or store-bought fresh pasta.

How do you increase Alfredo sauce? ›

How to thicken Alfredo sauce

Add more cheese. This is often the easiest way to make a creamy sauce. ...
Use cornstarch or arrowroot. ...
Add all-purpose flour. ...
Add egg yolks. ...
Cook the pasta directly in the sauce, with 2 or 3 ladles of water.

Get More Info Here ›

Why does my chicken alfredo taste bitter? ›

The Foolproof Way to Make Alfredo Sauce at Home

You'll start by lightly toasting garlic in a bit of butter, cooking just until fragrant. You'll then add the cream before the garlic browns, since burnt garlic can turn the sauce bitter in an instant.

Read The Full Story ›

Why is my chicken alfredo bland? ›

If it seems bland, chances are it just needs another hit of salt. You could also add additional punch by topping each plate with a hint of one of the ingredients in the dish—a couple of mint leaves, a sprinkling of chopped parsley, or a pinch of extra lemon zest.

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How do you thicken chicken alfredo sauce? ›

Mix together a little cornstarch in a small bowl with some cold water (or other liquid) until the mixture is smooth to form a slurry. Slowly, whisk the slurry into the simmering sauce in a pan over medium to medium-high heat. Whisk the slurry slowly into the hot sauce until you get the desired thickness.

Learn More ›

Why is it called chicken alfredo? ›

Cream is commonly added to American versions, which are often served as a main course with chicken, shrimp, salmon or other ingredients on top or on the side. The dish is named for Alfredo Di Lelio, a Roman restauranteur who is credited with its invention and popularisation in the early to mid-20th century.

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What's the difference between chicken alfredo and cheesy alfredo? ›

Chicken Alfredo is a classic combo of creamy Alfredo sauce, grilled chicken and oven-baked cheese, while Cheesy Alfredo features the new Alfredo sauce and two layers of cheese with baked Parmesan on top.

Get More Info Here ›

What can I use instead of fettuccine for chicken alfredo? ›

Fettuccine pasta: This long, thick noodle is classic shape for making the best fettuccine Alfredo, but any long pasta shape (fresh or dried) will work in this recipe. Instead of fettuccine noodles, try linguine, spaghetti, or pappardelle.

Read The Full Story ›

Is fettuccine and fettuccine Alfredo the same thing? ›

A famous dish made with fettuccine is fettuccine Alfredo, a simple dish of pasta, Parmesan cheese, and butter which was created and named at a restaurant in Rome in the early 20th century as a tableside "performance". It is popular in the United States, although practically unknown in Italy.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo - Crockpot Chicken Alfredo Recipe (2024)