Save Pin
My family can't get enough of this smooth Crockpot Angel Chicken that's been my dinner lifesaver for ages. You'll fall in love with the juicy chicken resting on delicate angel hair pasta, all covered in a silky, dreamy sauce that brings comfort food to a whole new level and always gets compliments.
I whipped this up the first time when my in-laws came over after an insanely busy work week. My slow cooker handled all the cooking while I cleaned up the house, and before they left, everyone wanted to know how to make it themselves.
What You'll Need
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: They're the main protein that gets super soft during the slow cooking process
- Cream cheese: Gives that unbelievably smooth texture that makes everyone ask for seconds
- Cream of mushroom soup: Adds amazing flavor depth without hours of cooking time
- Chicken broth: Brings in rich taste while helping the sauce reach just the right thickness
- White wine: Adds a touch of tang to cut through the creaminess, but more broth works fine too
- Italian dressing mix packet: The hidden gem that packs tons of flavor with zero effort
- Garlic powder: Spreads a mild, tasty aroma throughout every bite
- Black pepper: Gives just enough warmth to balance the creamy sauce without being too much
- Angel hair pasta: Its thin strands are perfect for grabbing onto that silky sauce
Tasty Instructions
- Mix Your Sauce:
- Grab a big bowl and throw in room-temperature cream cheese, cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth, white wine, Italian dressing mix, garlic powder, and black pepper. Make sure your cream cheese isn't cold or you'll end up with lumps. Stir everything until it's completely smooth with no cream cheese streaks left.
- Get Your Crockpot Ready:
- Lay your chicken breasts flat on the bottom of the slow cooker. Don't stack them up or they won't cook right. Pour all your sauce mix over them so every piece gets totally covered.
- Let It Cook:
- Put the lid on and set it to low for 4 to 5 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours. Low heat usually makes the chicken more tender if you've got the time. Don't peek under the lid while it's cooking or you'll let out heat and make the cooking time longer.
- Finish Up and Serve:
- About 15 minutes before the chicken's done, cook your angel hair pasta following the box directions. Drain it but don't rinse it so the sauce sticks better. Take the chicken out and either cut it up, pull it apart, or leave it whole on top of the pasta. Pour lots of that creamy sauce all over and sprinkle some fresh parsley on top for a nice color pop.
Save Pin
That Italian dressing mix really turns this dish from basic to amazing. I found this out by accident when I ran out of my usual herbs and grabbed a packet from my cupboard as a last resort. My family said it was the tastiest version ever, and now it's my go-to trick.
Prep It Early
This Angel Chicken works wonders as a planned-ahead meal. Just mix everything except the pasta in a big bowl, cover it and stick it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, dump it all in your slow cooker and turn it on before heading out. This method actually makes it taste better because the herbs in the dressing mix get plenty of time to flavor everything.
Switch Up The Sauce
The regular recipe makes a really tasty sauce, but you can tweak it how you want. For more mushroom taste, toss in 8 ounces of sliced fresh mushrooms. Want a bit of zing? Mix in a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice right before you serve it. If you like seeing little bits of herbs in your sauce, add a tablespoon of freshly chopped thyme or oregano during the last half hour of cooking.
Save Pin
What To Serve With It
This dish goes great with lots of different sides. Try a basic green salad with vinaigrette for a fresh contrast to the creamy sauce. Steamed broccoli or asparagus adds some nice color and healthy stuff. When you have company over, think about serving some warm crusty bread for soaking up the sauce and a cold glass of Pinot Grigio that goes well with creamy foods. It feels fancy enough for guests but easy enough for regular family meals.
Keeping Leftovers
You can keep the chicken and sauce in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I'd store the pasta by itself though, or it'll soak up all the sauce and get mushy. When you want to warm it up, add a little chicken broth to thin out the sauce since it gets thicker when cold. Heat it in the microwave 30 seconds at a time, giving it a stir between, until it's hot all the way through. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months, but again, I'd leave the pasta out when freezing for best results.
Common Recipe Questions
- → Can I swap in chicken thighs for the breasts?
Absolutely, you can use chicken thighs in this meal. Just keep an eye on cooking time since thighs typically cook a bit quicker.
- → What works instead of dry white wine?
You can swap out the white wine with more chicken stock or try a mix of water and a dash of apple cider vinegar.
- → How can I make the sauce thicker?
For a thicker sauce, just run your slow cooker on high with the lid off for about 15-20 minutes after taking the chicken out.
- → Is it okay to make this ahead?
Sure thing, you can get the chicken and sauce ready beforehand. Just keep them apart in sealed containers in your fridge for up to 2 days.
- → What goes well on the side?
This dish tastes great with some crusty garlic bread, fresh steamed veggies, or a crisp green salad.