Description
A creamy and comforting slow cooker soup filled with chicken, pasta, and cheesy goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup small pasta (like ditalini or elbow macaroni)
- 1 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
- 1/2 cup diced turkey ham (optional, for added flavor)
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Layer and Cook: Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour the marinara sauce over the top, then add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Pour in the chicken broth and stir gently to combine everything around the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6–7 hours or high for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Shred the Chicken: Once the chicken is fully cooked, use two forks to shred it right in the slow cooker. Stir the shredded chicken into the soup so it absorbs all the saucy flavor.
- Add the Cheesy Goodness: Stir in the Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and diced turkey ham (if using). Let them melt into the soup as you stir—it should become creamy and slightly thickened.
- Cook the Pasta Separately: While the cheese is melting, cook your pasta in a pot of boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain and set aside. (Cooking pasta separately prevents it from absorbing too much liquid in the slow cooker.)
- Finish with Cream: Stir in the half-and-half or cream to give the soup a rich, velvety finish. Add the cooked pasta to the slow cooker and give everything a final stir.
- Serve and Garnish: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with more shredded mozzarella or Parmesan, fresh basil or parsley, and a slice of crusty bread on the side.
Notes
- Using low-sodium chicken broth helps control the salt content of the dish.
- Cooking the pasta separately keeps it from becoming too soft and mushy in the slow cooker.
- Feel free to skip the turkey ham if you’re looking for a lighter version of the soup.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg