Description
Creamy cheesy chicken penne delivers comforting Italian-American flavors with perfectly seasoned chicken and rich cheese sauce. Hearty pasta promises satisfaction for home cooks seeking delicious weeknight dinner solutions.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1.5 cups sliced mushrooms
- 1 small sweet yellow onion, diced
Base and Liquid Ingredients:
- 21 ounces (two–10.5 ounce cans) cream of chicken soup (do not add water)
- 0.5 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 pound penne pasta (cooked according to package directions on stove-top)
Seasonings:
- 0.25 teaspoon pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon dried leaf tarragon (can substitute oregano, thyme, or Italian seasoning)
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker base by whisking cream of chicken soup and chicken broth until completely smooth and uniform in texture.
- Incorporate aromatic seasonings including tarragon, pepper, sliced mushrooms, and diced yellow onion into the liquid mixture. Gently nestle whole chicken breasts into the seasoned sauce.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and allow chicken to simmer on LOW temperature for 6 hours without interruption, ensuring tender and flavorful meat development.
- During the final hour of cooking, separately prepare penne pasta in boiling water until perfectly al dente, avoiding overcooking to maintain ideal pasta texture.
- Once chicken is fully cooked, use two forks to meticulously shred the meat directly within the slow cooker’s sauce, creating tender, bite-sized pieces.
- Enrich the sauce by folding in sour cream and approximately half of the shredded cheddar cheese, creating a luxuriously creamy consistency.
- Carefully introduce drained pasta into the slow cooker, gently folding to ensure even coating. Sprinkle remaining cheese across the top and allow to melt for an additional 20 minutes on low heat.
- Serve immediately while piping hot, presenting a comforting and indulgent one-pot meal that promises delightful flavors in every spoonful.
Notes
- Opt for low-sodium cream of chicken soup to control salt content and make the dish healthier for those watching their sodium intake.
- Swap chicken breasts with rotisserie chicken for a quicker preparation method that still delivers rich, tender protein.
- Use gluten-free penne and ensure cream of chicken soup is gluten-free to make this recipe suitable for celiac or gluten-sensitive individuals.
- Consider adding fresh herbs like parsley or chives right before serving to boost fresh flavor and enhance the dish’s visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 516
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 910 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg