5 from 1 vote
This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
Jump to RecipePrint Recipe
Having a hard time coming up with what to make for dinner this week? We've got you covered with this Slow Cooker Penne recipe! It's as appealing as it looks, with sun-dried tomatoes, alfredo sauce, and of course, penne. Make this easy crockpot penne once, and your family will ask for it again and again.
What's hearty, comforting, and cooks to perfection while you carry on with your day? You guessed it - Slow Cooker Penne!
Today, we are embracing the slow, easy magic of the crockpot. No need for constant stirring or watching the pot; this recipe takes very little hands-on time!
Slow Cooker Penne is your ticket to a fuss-free dinner that doesn’t skimp on taste. It's a meal that the entire family will relish, making weeknight dinners feel like a special occasion.
Looking for more slow cooker meal inspiration? Don't miss my Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas, Slow Cooker Chicken Aflredo, Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sliders, and Slow Cooker French Dips.
Ingredients
- Chicken Broth: This is a flavorful base for our pasta sauce. Homemade or store bought will work just fine.
- Alfredo Sauce: You can use store-bought or homemade.
- Sun Dried Tomatoes: Use dried sun dried tomatoes, or drained oil packed tomatoes.
- Boneless Chicken: You could use boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs; I typically use chicken breasts.
- Garlic: If you don't have fresh garlic, a teaspoon of garlic powder will give you a nice punch of flavor.
- Sea Salt: A dash of sea salt enhances all the other flavors in the dish. Feel free to adjust to your taste.
- Fresh Ground Pepper: A classic seasoning that offers a bit of heat and depth of flavor.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: For those who like spice in their pasta. If you're not a fan of heat, you can leave this out.
- Penne: Use regular or gluten free penne.
- Baby Spinach: Kale could be a great substitute too!
- Parmesan Cheese: Feel free to substitute another cheese if you prefer.
Step by Step
- Line your slow cooker with an aluminum foil collar. (This is optional and strickly for easy clean-up.)
- Combine ½ cup chicken broth, ½ cup Alfredo sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes in the prepared slow cooker. Set it to high and let it do its cook for 2 ½ hours.
- Add the pasta and pour in the remaining 1 cup of broth and Alfredo sauce, then let it cook for another 30 minutes.
- Afterwards, add the spinach and cook until wilted. It should take 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parmesan and serve.
If you like this recipe don't forget to leave a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the below comments, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, Instagram, and PINTEREST to see all my delicious recipes.
Print Recipe
Slow Cooker Penne with Chicken, Spinach & Sun Dried Tomatoes
Having a hard time coming up with what to make for dinner this week? We've got you covered with this Slow Cooker Penne recipe! It's as appealing as it looks, with sun dried tomatoes, alfredo sauce, and of course, penne. Make this easy crockpot penne once, and your family will ask for it again and again.
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Total Time3 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 329kcal
Author: Wendy Polisi
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth divided
- 15 ounces Alfredo Sauce divided
- 1 cup sun dried tomatoes
- 16 ounces boneless chicken
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 8 ounces penne gluten free if necessary
- 4 ounces baby spinach
- 2 ounces Parmesan cheese grated
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
In a slow cooker combine 1 ½ cups chicken broth, ½ cup Alfredo sauce, sun dried tomatoes, chicken, garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Cooking on high for 2 hours.
Remove the chicken and shred. Return to the slow cooker.
Add pasta, remaining 1 cup of broth and Alfredo Sauce and cook for an additional 30 minutes. Add spinach and cook until wilts, about 5 minutes.
Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.
Notes
Servings 8, Calories 455, Fat 15.5g, Carbohydrates 52.8g, Protein 26.9g, Cholesterol 60mg, Sodium 3205mg, Potassium 574mg, Fiber 3.2g, WW Pts 12
Nutrition
Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 1157mg | Potassium: 825mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1540IU | Vitamin C: 15.4mg | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 2.4mg
Filed Under:
Chicken RecipesGluten Free RecipesMain Dish RecipesPasta RecipesQuinoa RecipesSlow Cooker Recipes
More Gluten Free Recipes
- Blueberry Compote with Fresh or Frozen Blueberries
- 10-Minute Air Fryer Asparagus
- 20-Minute Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
About Wendy Polisi
Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 18 & 19 and my late life princess is 10.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Cheryl Rhodes (Starshine0309)
Hi Wendy,
Thank you for all your awesome receipes! I wanted to see if you could make this slow cooker receipe with something else other than the Alfredo sauce? Not a fan but would like something a bit healthier and lighter. Any suggestions?Thank you!
Cheryl Rhodes
ArizonaReply
Wendy Polisi
Hi Cheryl - Check out today's post - I used a quinoa cream in a mock alfredo-type sauce and I won't be going back. We didn't miss the cream AT ALL.
https://wendypolisi.com/skinny-chicken-spinach-sun-dried-tomato-casserole-with-quinoa-cream/
Reply
Stacy Pitaluga
This sounds yummy, I love pasta too! What is the foil collar for and can I sub parchment paper or something else?
Reply
Wendy Polisi
You can just spray your cooker well. It is just to help lift it out to prevent sticking. I actually used to use them but I bought a new cooker that doesn't stick like my old one did so I typically just spray and go now.
Reply