Crockpot Chicken Tortellini (Print Version)
Slow-cooked chicken with cheese tortellini and vegetables in a creamy, comforting sauce.
# What You'll 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 herbs
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 Cook:
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 herbs, black pepper, and salt. Stir everything together until well combined.
03 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 4 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
04 - Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken back to the pot.
05 - Stir in the cheese tortellini, heavy cream, and fresh baby spinach. Fold gently to incorporate without breaking the pasta.
06 - Cover and switch the slow cooker to HIGH. Cook for an additional 20–30 minutes, 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 -
- You literally dump everything in, walk away for four hours, and come back to something that tastes like you spent all day hovering over a stove.
- The cheese tortellini turns the whole thing into a cross between soup and pasta, which is basically the most comforting food category on earth.
02 -
- Do not add the tortellini at the beginning with everything else, because four hours in liquid turns pasta into unrecognizable paste.
- Frozen tortellini needs five to ten extra minutes, so test one before you declare the whole pot done.
03 -
- Shred the chicken directly in the pot using two forks instead of transferring it to a cutting board, because less mess means fewer dishes and that is always a win.
- A glass of Pinot Grigio pairs with this better than any red wine, something I discovered by accident when that was the only bottle left in the fridge.