we are heading into the in-between seasons when autumn feels *so* close, but yet so far away with the sweltering temperatures. this slow cooker marry me chicken pasta brings in the bounty of end of summer tomatoes with a cozy gluten-free pasta dish. even better, it’s packed with protein and easy to whip up in the slow cooker. try this for a comforting and simple weeknight dinner.
slow cooker marry me chicken pasta ingredients:
here is the ingredient line up…
- chicken breasts: the protein component of our pasta dish.
- Chicken bone broth: thins out the sauce.
- sun-dried tomatoes: a necessary “marry me chicken” component.
- catelvetrano olives: add color, texture and a delicious brininess.
- spices: paprika, Italian seasoning, mineral salt and freshly-cracked black pepper flavor the dish.
- aromatics: fresh tomatoes, fresh garlic and tomato paste deepen the pasta sauce
- cream cheese: makes the sauce thick and creamy- you can also use a dairy-free cream cheese option.
- gf spaghetti: this is the brand I prefer.
- toppings: freshly grated parmigiano reggiano and fresh basil leaves finish the dish.
how to make:
the slow cooker does 95% off the work in this simple and delicious recipe. begin by adding the chicken breasts to the slow cooker with seasonings, tomatoes, olives, garlic, chicken broth and cream cheese. Slow cook on low for about an hour. remove the chicken and shred it on a plate then return to the slow cooker. Pop the tomatoes with tongs to release flavor to the sauce and stir everything up until a pale red sauce develops. meanwhile while slow cooker is cooking, boil the gluten-free spaghetti. toss with olive oil, salt and pepper and reserve until ready to use. to serve, top spaghetti with plenty of marry me chicken pasta sauce along with plenty of grated parmesan and fresh basil leaves. enjoy!
menu ideas:
this slow cooker marry me chicken pasta is great for a simple weeknight meal or you can dress it up for guests. below are some menu option ideas to consider.
- weeknight family dinner: serve chicken pasta alongside roasted broccolini.
- meal prep: sub gf penne for the pasta and serve separately from chicken pasta sauce for easy lunches.
- family birthday party: serve chicken pasta alongside my greek salad with pistachios and garlic bread to enjoy!
Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds or 2-3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 1 cup grape tomatoes
- ¼ cup castelvetrano olives halved
- ¼ cup sundried tomatoes julienned
- 2/3 cup chicken bone broth
- 1 teaspoon mineral salt
- 20 grounds of freshly-cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 12 oz. box of GF Spaghetti I love Jovial Foods
- fresh basil grated parmesan and freshly-cracked black pepper, to garnish
Instructions
- To a slow cooker, add chicken breasts, cream cheese, tomato paste, tomatoes, olives, chicken broth, spices and garlic. Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 1.5-2 hours, until chicken is just cooked through.
- While sauce is cooking, boil water and cook pasta according to package directions. Make sure it's still al dente. Toss with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Store spread out on a sheet pan so pasta will not clump.
- When chicken is cooked, remove breasts and add to a plate. Shred chicken finely with a fork. Mix together the sauce in the slow cooker and pop the tomatoes to let them burst. Stir in shredded chicken.
- To serve, add spaghetti to a plate and top with a liberal amount of chicken and sauce. Top with grated parmesan, basil leaves and freshly-cracked black pepper. Enjoy!
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