Creamy Crockpot Chicken Tortellini (Printable version)
Slow-cooked chicken with cheese tortellini and vegetables in a velvety cream sauce. Hearty, comforting, and effortless.
# What you need:
→ 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 herb blend
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
# How To:
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 herb blend, black pepper, and salt. Stir everything together until well combined.
03 - Secure the lid and cook on the low setting for 4 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are fork-tender.
04 - Carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
05 - Add the cheese tortellini, heavy cream, and fresh baby spinach to the slow cooker. Gently stir to distribute all ingredients evenly.
06 - Cover and switch the slow cooker to the high setting. Cook for an additional 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 -
- The creamy broth absorbs into every tortellini pocket, creating a richness that tastes like you stood at the stove for hours.
- It turns a handful of everyday groceries into something that feels like a proper comfort meal with almost zero hands-on effort.
02 -
- Never add the tortellini at the beginning with the rest of the ingredients, or it will turn to paste by the time the chicken is done. It goes in only during the last 30 minutes.
- The heavy cream must be added at the end, not the beginning, because prolonged heat causes it to separate and leave an oily film on top of the sauce.
03 -
- Sear the chicken chunks in a hot skillet for two minutes before adding them to the crockpot to create a deeper, more caramelized flavor in the finished broth.
- A pinch of nutmeg stirred in with the heavy cream brings out the sweetness of the sauce in a way that makes people ask what your secret ingredient is.