Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a hearty slow cooker dish full of tender chicken in a creamy sauce. It's perfect when you need a meal on the dinner table that the whole family can enjoy. This is the original version is made with Buffalo Wild Wings Sauce that inspired the TikTok viral craze!

This crockpot garlic parmesan chicken pasta recipe is a big batch that can easily feed your family. Crockpots are great because they cook while you're doing other things, so all you have to do is throw everything into the pot and let it slow cook until dinner time.

If you're looking for a recipe that's easy to make and tastes delicious, try it this week!

Why you'll love this recipe

• The original recipe that inspired the TikTok viral recipe
• Made in the crockpot with simple ingredients 
• Minimal effort for busy weeknights
• Creamy with a little heat
• Made with fresh chicken breasts and Buffalo Wild Wings Parmesan Garlic with Italian Herbs sauce

Recipe profile

Super easy - this crockpot dish could not be easier to make as you essentially just "dump and go." All you have to do is place your ingredients in the crockpot and set it to cook. Then, when you are ready to eat, just cook your pasta, and dinner is served.

Incredible flavor - chicken, garlic, and parmesan go together so well and makes this dish absolutely burst with insanely good flavor. Your entire family is sure to love it and ask for seconds!

Very filling - the chicken packs this dish with protein, and you also get a great balance of carbs and fat that makes this meal incredibly filling.

Key Ingredients

Chicken - you will want to use boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. If you do not like the flavor of chicken breasts, however, you could use chicken thighs instead. If you choose bone in chicken, you'll need to adjust your cooking time.

Cream Cheese - adds creamy, rich texture to the dish. I use regular, but low fat may be substituted. I don’t recommend fat free, but if you cook with it and like it, then it should be fine.

Parmesan - the parmesan in this dish packs a punch of cheesy flavor that you will not want to miss. You can use freshly shredded or store-bought grated parmesan cheese for this recipe.

Buffalo Wild Wings Parmesan Garlic Sauce - this sauce gives your dish the most flavor, so you do not want to leave this out. However, if you cannot find this sauce at your local grocery store, you should be able to find it online. You can also use a generic brand of parmesan garlic sauce if needed.

Milk - I used and recommend whole or 2% milk. Heavy cream will make the sauce very rich and half and half will add some extra creaminess without being too heavy.

Pasta - we like all kinds of pasta shapes, so choose what you have on hand or something like rotini pasta, penne pasta, bow ties (farfalle). We think short pasta works best, but long noodles like spaghetti and fettuccine will also work.

Instructions

This is an overview of how to make Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta with step-by-step photos. Scroll to the bottom of the post for precise amounts and recipe card.

STEP ONE: Season chicken with kosher salt and fresh pepper. Place in the bottom of a crockpot or slow cooker. Pour the entire bottle of parmesan garlic sauce over the top of the chicken.

STEP TWO: Add milk to the empty bottle and shake. Pour milk and sauce mixture over the chicken. Add cream cheese and parmesan cheese to the crockpot. Stir to combine and cover chicken with sauce.

STEP THREE: Cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or low for 3 to 4 hours. Remove cooked chicken to a plate or cutting board and shred using 2 forks or dice into bite-sized pieces. Add shredded chicken back into the slow cooker.

STEP FOUR: Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain well and add to the crockpot, stirring to combine well. 

Top tips

• Use 1%, 2%, or whole milk. You can also try almond or oat milk if that's preferred.
• Low-fat cream cheese can be substituted for less fat and calories.
• We like to use between 12 to 16 ounces of cooked pasta depending on how many people we are serving and/or how saucy we want it.
• You can serve the chicken pieces whole if you prefer rather than cutting or shredding.
• Add fresh spinach to the crockpot right before serving. Stir until wilted.  

How to make it on the stovetop

Making this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta on the stovetop is a nice alternative. It cooks up in less than 30 minutes. You will need about 3 cups of cooked, shredded chicken. Pulled rotisserie chicken works great!

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Add Parmesan Garlic Sauce, milk, cream cheese, and parmesan cheese to a large pot over medium heat. Stir until creamy and well blended.
• Add cooked, shredded chicken to the garlic parmesan sauce, tossing to coat well.
• Simmer on low heat for 5 minutes.
• Top with additional parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley for a delicious meal!

​Homemade garlic parmesan sauce

If you can't find a bottle of Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Sauce, try making this copycat version. You will need:

• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Blend all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Store in airtight container for up to two weeks.

Variations

• Vegetarian: skip the chicken and add your favorite vegetables like mushrooms, broccoli, or cauliflower. Cook until vegetables are fork tender. 
• Low carb and keto: skip the pasta and serve over roasted or steamed vegetables. You can also try Shiratake or Miracle Noodles if you like. 
• Gluten-free: Try this over mashed potatoes, rice or gluten-free pasta.

Storage and reheating

Store your leftover Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta in a shallow airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag for up to 5 days.

You can freeze your pasta dish in an airtight container or freezer bag safely for up to 3 months.

To reheat from refrigerated: reheat your Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta in the oven at 375 degrees F in an oven-safe baking dish. Just make sure to add a bit of water, milk or cream (or extra sauce if you have another bottle) before cooking and cover the dish with aluminum foil. Use 10-minute intervals until the pasta is heated through.

You can also reheat individual servings of the pasta in a microwave-safe dish for about 2 minutes. Stir and add another minute if needed to heat through.

To reheat from frozen: If your pasta is completely frozen, you can heat it in your oven at 375 degrees F in an oven-safe container covered with aluminum foil. You will want to bake it for about 1 hour or until it reaches 165 degrees F.