Crockpot Chicken Tortellini (Printable)
Tender chicken and cheese tortellini in a creamy slow-cooked sauce with fresh vegetables for an effortless dinner.
# Ingredient List:
→ Meats
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lb), cut into large chunks
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 cups fresh baby spinach
03 - 1 cup carrots, thinly sliced
04 - 1 cup celery, diced
05 - 1 medium onion, diced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy & Pantry
07 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
08 - 1 can (10 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
09 - 1 cup heavy cream
→ Pasta
10 - 18 oz refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini
→ Spices & Seasonings
11 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
→ Optional Garnish
14 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
15 - Fresh parsley, chopped
# Steps:
01 - Arrange the chicken breast chunks, sliced carrots, diced celery, onion, and minced garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - Pour in the chicken broth and condensed cream of chicken soup. Sprinkle in the Italian herbs, black pepper, and salt. Stir everything together until well combined.
03 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 4 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
04 - Remove the chicken pieces from the slow cooker and shred lightly using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
05 - Stir in the cheese tortellini, heavy cream, and fresh baby spinach. Fold gently so the tortellini is submerged in the liquid.
06 - Cover and switch the slow cooker to HIGH. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the tortellini is tender and the spinach has wilted.
07 - Taste the dish and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Ladle into bowls and garnish with grated Parmesan and chopped fresh parsley if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It practically cooks itself while you handle everything else life throws at you.
- The combination of melted cheese tortellini and shredded chicken in cream sauce is impossibly comforting.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day when the flavors have had time to mingle.
02 -
- Frozen tortellini needs 5 to 10 extra minutes in the crockpot so plan accordingly if you cannot find refrigerated.
- Do not add the tortellini at the beginning or it will dissolve into mush before the chicken is done.
- You can swap the chicken for turkey or make it vegetarian with mushrooms and vegetable broth.
03 -
- Sear the chicken chunks in a hot skillet for two minutes before adding them to the crockpot for a deeper golden flavor.
- A pinch of nutmeg in the cream sauce sounds strange but it elevates the whole dish in a way people cannot quite identify.