CrockPot Chicken Tortellini
This easy CrockPot chicken tortellini recipe is a creamy, cheesy, and comforting one-pot meal perfect for busy weeknights. With tender chicken, pillowy tortellini, and plenty of veggies, it’s a family-friendly dinner that practically cooks itself.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into large chunks or left whole
- 20 oz cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 6 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach (optional, or use frozen spinach, squeezed dry)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
- 1 tsp black pepper (plus more to taste)
- 0.25 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 0.5 cup whole milk (or any milk/plant-based alternative)
- 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
Instructions
- Chop chicken into large chunks (or leave whole for shredding later). Slice carrots and celery, dice onion, and mince garlic.
- Place chicken at the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Scatter carrots, celery, onion, and garlic over the top.
- Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using).
- Pour in chicken broth. Dot softened cream cheese on top.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours (or HIGH for 2–3 hours), until chicken is tender and veggies are soft.
- Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return to the pot (if left whole).
- Add tortellini and milk. Stir gently to combine.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 20–25 minutes, until tortellini are tender and heated through.
- Stir in spinach and Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust salt/pepper as needed.
- Serve hot in bowls, topped with extra Parmesan and fresh cracked pepper if desired.
Notes
Add tortellini at the end to prevent mushiness. For a lump-free sauce, blend cream cheese with hot broth before adding. Use gluten-free or dairy-free substitutes as needed. Add extra veggies like mushrooms or peas for variety. If sauce is too thin, let sit uncovered for 5–10 minutes; if too thick, add a splash of broth or milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1.5 cups
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 32
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