Here's a deliciously easy twist on crock pot chicken alfredo...this one uses tortellini! It's quick and easy AND it's absolutely delicious!
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Amazingly Easy Chicken Shortcut
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Most of us are busy. Not just busy, REALLY busy. And if we want any sort of balance in our lives, we need all the shortcuts we can find.
I'm not talking about sacrificing your lifestyle or diet choices. I'm just talking about taking the shortcuts you're personally comfortable with.
Either purchasing pre-cooked deli chicken OR making my own make ahead crock pot chicken...well, I'm good with both those. For this recipe, I used a roasted chicken from Kroger.
It doesn't have to come from Kroger nor does it have to be roasted. It just needs to be pre-cooked.
Any sort of canned chicken would work as well. You'd need to drain the juices first of course, but in a pinch, you could use that instead of the broth that the recipe calls for (that isn't a recommendation, that's an "in a pinch" situation". As in "that's what I have in the house and I am NOT going to the grocery for any ingredients"...which is exactly why my crockpot honey-garlic chicken thighs sauce is in the process of reducing instead of me adding cornstarch
Ingredients for Crockpot Chicken Alfredo Tortellini
These steps are super easy! But first, you need the ingredients. And there are only 5. So here we go...
- You'll need an 18 to 20-ounce package of package of refrigerated tortellini. I used Rana 5 Cheese Tortellini. If you use a different brand, I'd personally recommend one of the refrigerated versions.
I like the refrigerated versions better for several reasons:
- To me, they taste fresher
- They cook better in the slow cooker from my experience
- They freeze better if you decide to use them in a freezer meal session
- Now for the chicken, I talked about earlier. The roasted, baked or rotisserie chicken you can purchase at most big box/grocery stores with a deli works great!
You can also use our make-ahead chicken thighs recipe (or make the same recipe with chicken breasts) OR canned chicken will also work. You just need 4 to 5 cups of precooked chicken. Whatever kind you use is up to you. I used a deli roasted
- Then there's the cheese. Parmesan to be exact. You can shred or peel your own or you can purchase the pre-shredded sort. That's what I did. I used one 6-ounce package of pre-shredded parmesan cheese. I don't have a particular brand I'm partial to. I am usually just happy when I can find it.
- Now for the chicken broth. OR you can use chicken stock. The main difference between the two is chicken broth is strained and doesn't have any "solids".
The solids are nothing gross, they are actually good for you and have lots of healthy stuff in them. As I write this, I'm actually cooking down the chicken carcass from that deli-roasted chicken
I talked about earlier. I'm making crockpot chicken stock. It's my first attempt, I'll let you know how that turns out soon 🙂
- Our last ingredient is 2 jars of alfredo sauce. The ones I used were (get this) 16.9 ounces each. Snort. So I'm NOT going to say you have to go find 16.9-ounce jars of alfredo. Just something about that size.
I AM gonna say though OMG if you have an access to the Private Selection brand (and no, they aren't paying me to tell you that they are good) and you like basil at all...you REALLY want to try the Basil Pesto Alfredo Sauce I used. It is absolutely amazing.
Kroger and their affiliate stores carry them. I don't know what other locations do so. I DO know there are a few available through Amazon (this IS an affiliate link).
Also, if you can't find the Private Selection version and don't want to/can't make your own...the Bertolli Alfredo Sauces are yummy too. These two are always my personal top options when I can't (or don't wanna) make my own.
Alrighty, enough about the ingredients...on to the directions 🙂
Step-by-Step Assembly
Super easy here too! And the step-by-step image below tells the story pretty clearly. You basically assemble it in layers.
If your chicken is pre-cooked and/or pre-shredded, then you're golden. It should take you all of 5 minutes to toss together.
Then you just cover that baby up and cook it on low for 6 to 7 hours (or high for about 4).
Layers for Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo Tortellini:
- First butter, spray or grease the slow cooker insert. Use whatever you are comfortable using and/or works for your dietary/life choices. I used about 2 teaspoons of coconut oil.
- Next, pour/spread 1 jar of your alfredo sauce over the bottom of the oiled slow cooker.
- Dump in the tortellini in a single layer.
- Toss in the precooked chicken in a decently even layer.
- Next, use a separate bowl or bowl, measuring cup or whatever you have. Mix the second jar of alfredo sauce with the chicken stock (or broth). Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken. ***
- Lastly, sprinkle with the shredded parmesan cheese.
***Cooking Tip: So you don't loose any of that Alfredo yumminess. Dump the second jar of alfredo sauce into your mixing bowl. Pour half the broth into each alfredo sauce jar. Cap them both and shake well. Now pour the broth from the jars into the alfredo sauce and mix. This way you'll use every last tablespoon of that deliciousness in your recipe, you'll not waste any money AND you can re-use the jars for something rather cool 🙂
Printable for Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo Tortellini
5-Ingredient Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo Tortellini
Ingredients
- 20 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 4 to 5 cups precooked chicken breasts
- 6- ounce package shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 16- ounce jars alfredo sauce
Instructions
- Mix the chicken broth and 1 jar of alfredo sauce and set aside
- Grease, butter or spray the crockpot insert
- Pour the second jar of alfredo sauce over the bottom of the crockpot insert
- Layer in the tortellini
- Thirdly, layer in the cooked chicken
- Pour the broth/sauce mixture over the top of the chicken layer
- Sprinkle with the shredded parmesan
- Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours. Or cook on high about 4 hours.
Freezer Meal Directions:
- Leave the tortellini in its original package and place it in its own closable freezer bag.
- Also, leave the cheese in its own bag.
- Pour the chicken, alfredo sauce, and broth into another freezer bag.
- Use the "tape together" method shown in our Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie recipe.
- Tape all three bags together, label and freeze for up to three months.
Pinnables for Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Tortellini 
More Delicious Chicken Recipes:
If you like this super easy crock pot chicken idea, you might want to check these out too!
- Slow Cooker Angel Chicken
- Crockpot Ranch Chicken and Mushrooms
- Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings
- Pressure Cooker Chicken Alfredo
Psst...One more thing. I've got a crock pot chicken alfredo recipe on the calendar to make in a few weeks. I'm not sure if it'll be a quick and easy version or a homemade alfredo. I shall keep you posted on that one.
In the mean time, that angel pasta listed above...that's another super easy twist on crock pot chicken alfredo. It only has a few ingredients too 🙂
Rock that Crock!
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