Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken
Slow cooker ranch chicken brings tender shredded chicken and rotini together in a creamy ranch sauce. Cream cheese and cream of chicken soup make the sauce rich, while the pasta turns it into a comforting dinner.
The chicken cooks in the slow cooker, and the noodles are boiled separately near the end. Stir everything together just before serving and add a little fresh parsley if you like.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Why This Recipe Works
The sauce cooks with the chicken: Cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning surround the chicken as it cooks. Shredding the cooked chicken into that sauce spreads it throughout the dish.
The pasta stays separate until the end: Boiling the noodles according to the package directions gives you control over their texture before they are stirred into the sauce.
Short preparation: Start with 10 minutes of preparation, then the slow cooker handles the chicken while the pasta waits until the final step.
Ingredients and Notes
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Use two large breasts, which are shredded after cooking.
Cream cheese: This adds richness to the sauce.
Cream of chicken soup: The soup forms the base of the creamy sauce.
Ranch seasoning mix: Use the seasoning mix, not bottled ranch dressing.
Rotini: Use another noodle shape if you prefer. Cook it separately according to its package instructions.
Fresh parsley: An optional finishing touch.
How to Make Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken
- Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
- Top the chicken with the cream of chicken soup, ranch seasoning, and cream cheese.
- Cook on high for 3–4 hours or low for 6–8 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked. Shred the chicken in the sauce.
- Boil the rotini according to its package directions and drain. Stir the cooked noodles into the chicken and sauce, then finish with parsley if desired.
Expert Tips
Read the pasta package: Different shapes need different cooking times. Use the directions for the noodles you choose.
Drain before combining: Add drained noodles so their cooking water does not dilute the sauce.
Shred into the sauce: Break the chicken into bite-size pieces so it mixes evenly with the pasta.
Finish near serving time: Cook and combine the pasta at the end rather than putting dry noodles in with the raw chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a pasta shape other than rotini? Yes. You can use other noodles. Keep the same pasta amount and follow the package cooking directions.
Does the pasta cook in the slow cooker? No. Boil it separately, drain it, and stir it into the cooked chicken and sauce.
Can I cook the chicken on low? Yes. Cook for 6 to 8 hours on low or 3 to 4 hours on high.
Is the parsley required? No. It is an optional garnish.
Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
- large pot
- colander
- Forks for shredding
- spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 21 ounces cream of chicken soup
- 1 ounce ranch seasoning mix or one packet
- 12 ounces rotini or other noodles
- fresh parsley optional, for topping
Instructions
- Place the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Top with the cream of chicken soup, ranch seasoning mix, and cream cheese.
- Cook on high for 3–4 hours or low for 6–8 hours, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Shred the cooked chicken inside the slow cooker.
- Boil the noodles according to the package directions, then drain.
- Add the drained noodles to the slow cooker and stir until everything is combined.
- Top with fresh parsley, if desired.
Disclaimer:
Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.