Crockpot Creamy Italian Chicken
A comforting and hassle-free dish of tender chicken simmered in a rich, creamy Italian sauce, perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts Ensure they are fresh and thawed if frozen.
- 1 ounce Italian dressing mix
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup Use gluten-free if needed.
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened Softened properly for smooth sauce.
- 1 cup chicken broth Ensure gluten-free if necessary.
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
- 1 cup chopped spinach (fresh or frozen)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon salt Adjust to taste.
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper Adjust to taste.
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Preparation
- Start by placing the boneless, skinless chicken breasts at the bottom of your crockpot. Ensure they are laid flat and evenly spaced.
- In a small bowl, combine the Italian dressing mix, salt, and black pepper. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the cream of chicken soup, softened cream cheese, chicken broth, minced garlic, and dried Italian seasoning. Stir until you have a smooth mixture.
- Pour the creamy mixture over the seasoned chicken breasts in the crockpot. Gently shake the crockpot to ensure the sauce covers the chicken evenly.
- If using mushrooms and spinach, add them now on top of the sauce.
Cooking
- Cover the crockpot with a lid and set it to cook on low for 6 hours.
- For quicker cooking set it to high for about 3 hours, but low and slow yields the best flavor and tenderness.
- Once the cooking time is complete, remove the chicken pieces using tongs. Use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and stir to combine with the sauce.
- Let everything sit for another 10-15 minutes for the flavors to meld.
- Serve warm over your favorite pasta, rice, or with crusty bread for dipping. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
For best results, use fresh chicken breasts. Customize your vegetables as desired. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.