Name: Crock Pot Cheesy Chicken Taco Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 5 min
Yield: 8 Servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 chicken breasts; 1 packet taco seasoning; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 cup diced onion; 1 can cream of chicken soup; 1 can rotel tomatoes; 1 4-oz can green chilies; 4-oz cream cheese; 1 lb pasta; 1 cup pasta water; 8-oz monterrey jack cheese

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A simple slow cooker recipe for cheesy chicken with pasta in a creamy sauce made with taco seasoning and easy-to-find ingredients.

This is an easy recipe that tastes more like a freshly made stovetop meal than most of the dump-and-go slow cooker recipes we're used to.

Yes, this has the typical can of cream of chicken soup BUT we're stirring in hot pasta water with freshly grated cheese at the end which makes this taste less like something you settled for because it was easy and more like something you'd order at a restaurant!

This makes a big batch and, because of the magic (OK, science) behind pasta water, the leftovers heat up beautifully and the sauce will be just as glossy and delicious as when it was first prepared!

Crock Pot Cheesy Chicken Taco Pasta! A simple slow cooker recipe for cheesy chicken with pasta in a creamy sauce made with taco seasoning and easy-to-find ingredients.

INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS

There's a lot of wiggle-room with this recipe. Below are 8 of the key ingredients for Crock Pot Taco Chicken Pasta, why we use them and ideas for substitutions.

1. CHICKEN BREASTS

You can use less chicken if needed. I've made this a few times with 2 large breasts.
You can absolutely use chicken thighs.
You could use leftover, rotisserie or canned chicken but you would need to reduce the cooking time by half (you'd really just be heating everything through and ensuring the onions were soft).

2. TACO SEASONING

Use any 1-oz regular taco seasoning mix.
You can substitute with 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning.
If you don't have taco seasoning, season with salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and paprika.

3. ROTEL DICED TOMATOES

You can use any variety or similar brand of Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies.
You could substitute with one can petite diced tomatoes but drain it first.

4. CANNED GREEN CHILIES

These aren't a must so feel free to omit if needed.
They add a nip of acid to cut through all the richness from the creamy sauce.

5. CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP

You can use any traditional condensed creamed soup (celery, onion, mushroom, etc.).
I don't love reduced fat creamed soups in crock pot recipes. They're thickened with cornstarch which breaks down after being cooked so long.
Do not prepare the soup before adding to the recipe.

6. PASTA WATER

The hot, salty pasta water gives the sauce a glossy quality and helps bind it to the pasta.
Don't skimp on the salt. Use about 2 teaspoons table salt for every 2.5 quarts of water.
If you plan on reheating leftovers or if the dish will rest awhile before being served, consider saving an additional 1/2 cup to stir in when reheating.

7. MONTERREY JACK CHEESE

You absolutely need to shred the cheese for this recipe. Pre-shredded cheese is coated with anti-caking ingredients which make creamy sauces chalky and dry.
You can use any mild cheese for this (cheddar, colby jack, etc.) but I like how well monterrey jack melts into the sauce.
White American would be the best substitute.

8. PASTA

I used rigatoni in the batch pictured here but also like penne, shells and even spaghetti.
You can use any type of pasta (strand, bite-size, tubular, etc.)
Be sure not to overcook the pasta as it will continue to cook a few minutes in the sauce.

MORE GOOD CROCK POT RECIPES TO TRY

Want more slow cooker recipes that won't make you feel like you've given up on life?? Here are the recipes I use time and time again that I look forward to (and my family doesn't groan over when they see me dragging out the crock pot)!

Crock Pot Swamp Potatoes - Smothered green beans, potatoes and smoked sausage cooked in a slow cooker with butter, onions and Cajun seasoning - the viral TikTok recipe that's insanely delicious!

3-Ingredient Crock Pot Chicken Tacos - A super simple slow cooker recipe with only three ingredients for shredded Mexican chicken taco meat perfect for tacos, burritos, rice bowls and more.

Slow Cooker Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole - A simple but delicious casserole recipe with wild rice, chicken tenderloins and mushrooms made easy in a crock pot.

Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken - An easy Asian-inspired slow cooker chicken recipe with honey and garlic similar to Bourbon Chicken the whole family will love!

Southern Style Crock Pot Chicken & Rice - An easy slow cooker recipe for a Carolina favorite made with tender stewed chicken and long grain rice. No precooking the chicken and no instant rice.

Recipe for Crock Pot Cheesy Chicken Taco Pasta