Description
Angel Chicken is a creamy, comforting slow cooker recipe featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a rich sauce made from cream cheese, butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, and chicken broth. Served over delicate angel hair pasta and garnished with fresh Italian parsley and Parmesan cheese, this dish is perfect for an easy yet impressive meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 3 chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Creamy Sauce
- 4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 0.6 ounce Italian dressing seasoning packet (about 2 tablespoons)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Pasta and Garnish
- 16 ounces angel hair pasta
- Fresh Italian parsley (chopped, for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
Instructions
- Season and Sear Chicken: Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until golden but not completely cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together softened cream cheese, butter, chicken broth, minced garlic, and Italian dressing seasoning until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Layer in Slow Cooker: Place the seared chicken breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour the creamy mixture evenly over the chicken.
- Slow Cook Chicken: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and is tender.
- Remove Chicken: Once cooked through, carefully remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and set aside.
- Thicken Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together heavy cream and cornstarch until smooth. Stir this mixture into the slow cooker liquid.
- Return Chicken and Finish Cooking: Place the chicken breasts back into the slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for another 15-20 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.
- Cook Pasta: While the sauce thickens, cook the angel hair pasta in boiling salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well.
- Serve: Serve the tender chicken breasts over the cooked angel hair pasta. Spoon plenty of the creamy thickened sauce over the top. Garnish with freshly chopped Italian parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Notes
- Searing the chicken before slow cooking enhances flavor and color but is optional if short on time.
- Use full-fat cream cheese and heavy cream for the best rich and creamy texture.
- Adjust salt and pepper seasoning to taste depending on the saltiness of the Italian dressing seasoning packet.
- Leftover chicken and sauce can be refrigerated and reheated gently on the stovetop.
- For a lower fat version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, but the sauce will be less rich.
