Slow Cooker Chicken Parm Pasta

Ingredients

• 40 oz chicken breast
• 28 oz peeled or crushed tomatoes (1 can)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1.5 tbsp coarse salt
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp black pepper, onion powder, and chili flakes (The source gives one teaspoon for this combined seasoning listing.)
• 15 g parmigiano reggiano (For the chicken and tomato mixture)
• 672 g pasta (Cook to 50% of the time shown on the package.)
• 300 g 2% cottage cheese (Blend for 2–3 minutes until completely smooth; heating slightly in the microwave can help.)
• 240 ml fat-free milk
• 100 g 1/3-fat cream cheese
• 150 g parmigiano reggiano (For the creamy sauce)
• 1 tbsp white miso (Optional)
• salt and pepper (To taste)
• fresh basil (Chopped, for topping)

Steps

1. 1

   Place the chicken breast, tomatoes, tomato paste, minced garlic, coarse salt, Italian seasoning, black pepper, onion powder, chili flakes, and 15 g Parmigiano Reggiano in a slow cooker. The source does not specify whether the chicken should be whole or cut before cooking.

2. 2

   Cook in the slow cooker on High for 2–3 hours, or on Low for 3–4 hours. The source does not provide a finished internal-temperature or visual doneness cue for the chicken.

3. 3

   Cook 672 g pasta to 50% of the time listed on the package; in other words, cook it for half the package-specified time.

4. 4

   Blend the cottage cheese for 2–3 minutes until it is completely smooth. The source notes that heating it slightly in the microwave can help with blending.

5. 5

   Combine the blended cottage cheese with the fat-free milk, 1/3-fat cream cheese, 150 g Parmigiano Reggiano, optional white miso, and salt and pepper to taste. The source does not specify whether this sauce is blended, heated, or added at a particular point.

6. 6

   Combine the partially cooked pasta with the slow-cooker chicken and tomato mixture and the creamy cheese mixture. The source does not provide detailed assembly instructions.

7. 7

   Top the finished chicken parm pasta with chopped basil.

8. 8

   For meal prep, freeze the portions. To reheat, do not thaw: place a portion in the microwave with 2–3 tablespoons of milk or water, cover with a paper towel, and microwave for 3–5 minutes until heated through. Add more liquid if needed to reconstitute the sauce or increase creaminess.

Notes

For accurate serving sizes, weigh the empty slow cooker before adding anything. Weigh it again after cooking and subtract the initial weight; divide the finished food weight by 10. The source does not specify the pasta shape, the chicken's cut size, or the exact method and timing for combining the pasta and creamy sauce with the slow-cooker mixture.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• slow-cooked
• meal prep
• high-protein
• freezer-friendly
• Italian-inspired
• macro-friendly