slow cooker Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Creamy Parmesan Pasta

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Combining the ease of a slow cooker with vibrant, restaurant-quality flavors, this Slow-Cooker Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Creamy Parmesan Pasta delivers tender, melt-in-your-mouth chicken bathed in a bright citrus-garlic sauce, served over a rich bed of pasta.

Ingredients

  • The Chicken: 1.5 to 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
  • The Garlic & Butter Sauce:
    • ½ cup unsalted butter (sliced into pats)
    • 4–6 cloves garlic, minced
    • Freshly squeezed juice and zest of 1 large lemon
    • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper
  • The Creamy Parmesan Finish:
    • 8 oz fettuccine or spaghetti (cooked separately al dente)
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
    • Fresh chopped parsley for garnish

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Layer the Slow Cooker: Place the chicken breasts or thighs at the bottom of your slow cooker. Season generously with salt, pepper, and dried oregano.
  2. Add the Aromatics & Liquids: Scatter the minced garlic over the chicken, lay the pats of butter on top, and pour in the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth.
  3. Cook Low and Slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours (or HIGH for 2 hours) until the chicken is tender and easily shreds or slices.
  4. Shred or Slice: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker. Shred it with two forks or slice it into thick medallions, then return it to the citrus-garlic juices to keep it ultra-moist.
  5. Toss with Pasta & Cream: Stir the heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese directly into the warm slow cooker juices until a rich, glossy sauce forms. Toss in your freshly cooked pasta and shredded chicken, coating every strand in the creamy lemon-garlic sauce.
💡 COACH TIP (SAVE TIME)
To make this an ultra-fast weeknight meal, use store-bought pre-cooked rotisserie chicken breast. Skip the slow-cooker meat stage and simply whisk the warm broth, melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, heavy cream, and Parmesan in a skillet on the stove for 5 minutes before tossing with the chicken and pasta.

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