Description
This Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Creamy Italian Chicken is an effortless and flavorful dish perfect for busy days. Tender chicken breasts slow-cooked in zesty Italian dressing, then mixed with rich cream cheese and Parmesan for a creamy, savory sauce. Serve over pasta, rice, or your favorite sides for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
Sauce
- 1 cup Italian dressing (zesty or regular, bottled)
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in an even layer in the bottom of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. If the chicken breasts are thick, slice them in half horizontally for even cooking.
- Coat with Dressing: Pour the Italian dressing over the chicken and use tongs to turn and lightly coat all pieces evenly with the dressing.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours or on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender enough to shred easily.
- Shred Chicken: Shred the chicken with two forks directly in the slow cooker or transfer to a cutting board to shred, then return it to the slow cooker.
- Add Cream Cheese and Parmesan: Add the cubed cream cheese and grated Parmesan cheese to the shredded chicken. Stir gently to combine, then cover and let sit on LOW for 10 to 15 minutes to melt the cheeses and create a creamy sauce. Stir again until smooth.
- Adjust and Serve: Taste the creamy chicken and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot over pasta, rice, or your preferred side dishes.
Notes
- Slice thick chicken breasts for more even cooking and shredding.
- Use zesty Italian dressing for a more robust flavor or regular for a milder taste.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To make this dish gluten-free, ensure the Italian dressing used is gluten-free.
- Adding extra Parmesan on top before serving enhances flavor.
