If you’re looking for a meal that’s packed with flavor but doesn’t take up much of your time, this slow cooker pesto chicken mozzarella pasta recipe is for you! With just a few simple ingredients, including chicken, pesto, and mozzarella, this dish is a dream come true for anyone who loves comfort food with a twist. The best part? It only takes 3 minutes of hands-on effort, leaving you with plenty of time to do other things while the slow cooker does its magic.
Method in Detail
Start with the Chicken
First, take your three chicken breasts and slice them into thin pieces. This will help them cook evenly and absorb all the wonderful flavors of the pesto and seasonings. Place the sliced chicken breasts into your slow cooker, making sure they’re spread out evenly. Next, add 4 tablespoons of green pesto into the cooker. The pesto is the star ingredient here, bringing a rich and aromatic flavor that blends beautifully with the chicken. To add some brightness, squeeze in the juice of one lemon, which will complement the earthiness of the pesto and chicken. Don’t forget to mince three garlic cloves and add them to the slow cooker as well. Garlic is a must for flavor depth! Finally, season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste, ensuring that the seasoning is evenly distributed. Stir everything together gently, ensuring the chicken is coated in the pesto and seasoning. Set your slow cooker to high and let it cook for about 2 hours. During this time, the chicken will become tender, and the flavors will meld together wonderfully.
Add the Pasta
After the 2-hour mark, it’s time to add the dry penne pasta and chicken stock. Stir the pasta into the slow cooker, ensuring that it’s submerged in the pesto-chicken mixture. Pour 500ml of chicken stock into the pot to provide the necessary liquid for the pasta to cook. The stock will infuse the pasta with savory flavors while it cooks. Let the slow cooker run on high for an additional 40 minutes, which will give the pasta enough time to soak up all the delicious flavors from the chicken and pesto. Keep an eye on the pasta as it cooks it should become tender and perfectly cooked, absorbing all the liquid and flavor.
Creamy Touch
Once the pasta is tender and cooked, it’s time to add a creamy twist to the dish. Take a tablespoon of Philadelphia cream cheese and stir it into the pasta. This will give the entire dish a rich and velvety texture, enhancing the overall creaminess of the dish. Stir thoroughly to ensure the cream cheese melts evenly throughout the pasta. Next, take your mozzarella cheese and add as much as you like on top. The more mozzarella, the cheesier and more indulgent the dish will be! Cover the slow cooker with its lid and let the mozzarella melt for about 20 minutes. The heat will melt the cheese into the pasta, creating a bubbly, cheesy topping that will make your dish even more delicious. Once the cheese is melted to your liking, your pesto chicken and mozzarella pasta is ready to be served!
Necessary Tools
- Slow cooker
- Knife and cutting board
- Measuring spoons
- Spoon for stirring
- A ladle or tongs for serving
Pesto Chicken & Mozzarella Pasta: A Deliciously Simple Recipe
Cuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy3
servings3
minutes2
hours2
hours3
minutesIngredients
3 x chicken breasts, sliced
4 x tbsp green pesto
Juice of 1 lemon
500ml chicken stock
3 x garlic cloves, minced
Salt & pepper to taste
350g dry penne pasta
1 x tbsp Philadelphia cream cheese
Mozzarella (as much as you want to top)
Directions
- Start with the chicken: Place the sliced chicken breasts in your slow cooker. Add the pesto, minced garlic, lemon juice, and seasonings (salt and pepper). Stir it all together and cook on high for 2 hours. The chicken will get tender and soak up all that delicious pesto flavor.
- Add the pasta: After the 2 hours, stir in the dry penne pasta and chicken stock. Let it cook on high for an additional 40 minutes, so the pasta soaks up all the flavors and becomes perfectly cooked.
- Creamy touch: Once the pasta is done, stir in a tablespoon of Philadelphia cream cheese. This will give the dish a rich, creamy texture. Then, top with mozzarella cheese and cover with the slow cooker lid. Cook for 20 more minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- Pasta consistency: If you find that the pasta absorbs too much liquid, add a little more chicken stock after the first cooking phase. Keep an eye on the texture to ensure it stays creamy.
- Cheese melt level: For the perfect mozzarella melt, make sure to check the dish towards the end. If you like it extra cheesy, feel free to add more mozzarella or let it cook for an extra 10 minutes.
- Chicken size: If your chicken breasts are particularly thick, you might need to slice them thinner to ensure they cook properly and absorb all the flavors.
Serving Suggestions
This dish pairs perfectly with a simple side salad of mixed greens or garlic bread for some extra crunch. If you want to make it even heartier, you can add roasted vegetables or sautéed spinach on the side for a complete meal.
Fun Fact
Did you know that pesto originally comes from Genoa, Italy, and the name “pesto” comes from the Italian word pestare, which means “to crush” or “to pound”? The original recipe uses basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil all ground together!
Conclusion
This Slowcooker Pesto Chicken & Mozzarella Pasta is one of the easiest and tastiest dishes you’ll ever make. The creamy, cheesy goodness combined with the flavors of pesto and chicken makes it a winner every time. Plus, with minimal prep time and no fussing over a hot stove, it’s the perfect meal for busy days or when you just want a simple dinner that everyone will love. Enjoy!
