Creamy Crockpot Mississippi Chicken (Print Version)

Tender chicken with tangy pepperoncini and creamy sauce, slow-cooked and combined with pasta for ease.

# Components:

→ Chicken & Seasonings

01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
03 - 1 packet (1 oz) au jus gravy mix
04 - 6 to 8 whole pepperoncini peppers
05 - 1/4 cup pepperoncini juice
06 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

→ Sauce & Pasta

07 - 8 oz cream cheese, cubed and softened
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - 12 oz penne or rotini pasta, uncooked
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

12 - Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Arrange chicken breasts in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
02 - Sprinkle ranch seasoning and au jus gravy mix evenly over the chicken.
03 - Place pepperoncini peppers and pepperoncini juice on top of the chicken.
04 - Distribute butter in several pieces over the chicken.
05 - Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours until chicken is tender and fully cooked.
06 - Using two forks, shred the chicken directly in the crockpot.
07 - Add cream cheese and heavy cream to the crockpot, stirring gently to combine.
08 - Cover and cook on HIGH for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cream cheese is fully melted and sauce reaches smooth consistency.
09 - In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly.
10 - Stir cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese into the creamy chicken mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
11 - Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crockpot does almost all the work while you go about your day, then you finish with pasta for a complete meal that tastes like you spent hours on it.
  • Those pepperoncini peppers add a subtle tang that keeps the cream sauce from feeling heavy or one-note.
  • It feeds a crowd without making you feel like you're cooking a crowd.
02 -
  • Don't skip softening the cream cheese first—cold cubes will seize up in the hot sauce and leave you picking them out of your teeth.
  • Cook the pasta separately and don't add it until the very end; adding it to the crockpot early turns it into mush.
03 -
  • Taste before serving because seasoning packet amounts can vary between brands, and you might want to dial in the salt and pepper.
  • If your sauce looks thin after adding the pasta, let it sit covered for 5 minutes—sometimes it thickens slightly as everything melds together.
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