There’s something magical about coming home to dinner that’s already made. That’s why this crockpot cream cheese chicken has become a regular at our house. After a busy day of running errands and managing deadlines, the last thing I want to think about is spending an hour in the kitchen.
I started making this recipe on those hectic weekdays when I knew I’d be too tired to cook. Just toss everything in the slow cooker in the morning, and by dinner time, you’ve got this creamy, comforting meal waiting for you. My kids actually cheer when they smell it cooking – no joke!
Looking for an easy dinner that practically makes itself? This one’s for you. The cream cheese makes it rich and satisfying, and the slow cooking means the chicken turns out perfectly tender every time. Plus, it’s one of those recipes that somehow tastes even better as leftovers.
Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken
- Effortless preparation – With just 8 ingredients and minimal prep work, you can throw everything in your slow cooker and let it do the heavy lifting while you focus on other things.
- Rich and creamy texture – The combination of cream cheese and cream of chicken soup creates a velvety sauce that coats every bite of tender chicken perfectly.
- Budget-friendly meal – Using simple pantry staples and affordable chicken parts, this recipe makes enough to feed a family without breaking the bank.
- Versatile main dish – This creamy chicken works great over rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes, and leftovers taste even better the next day.
What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?
For this crockpot recipe, you’ve got several good options when it comes to chicken parts. Dark meat like chicken thighs tends to stay more juicy and tender during the long cooking process, but chicken breasts work well too if that’s your preference. If you’re using bone-in pieces, they’ll add more flavor to the dish, though boneless pieces are totally fine and might be easier to serve. Just make sure your chicken pieces are similar in size so they cook evenly – if you’re using breasts and they’re particularly large, you might want to cut them in half. For the best results, try to avoid using frozen chicken, as it can release too much liquid during cooking and make your sauce watery.
Options for Substitutions
This creamy chicken dish is pretty adaptable – here are some handy swaps you can try:
- Chicken parts: You can use any chicken pieces you like – breasts, thighs, or a mix. Just keep in mind that dark meat (thighs and legs) stays a bit more moist than white meat in the slow cooker.
- Italian dressing mix: No Italian dressing mix? Mix 1 teaspoon each of dried basil, oregano, and garlic powder, plus ½ teaspoon each of onion powder and black pepper as a substitute.
- Cream of chicken soup: Cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup work just as well. For a homemade option, mix 1 cup milk with 3 tablespoons flour, heat until thick, and season with chicken bouillon.
- Cream cheese: This is pretty important for the recipe’s texture, but in a pinch, you could use mascarpone cheese. Neufchatel cheese is also a good lower-fat option that works the same way.
- Chicken stock: Vegetable stock works fine, or you can use water mixed with a chicken bouillon cube. Even white wine mixed with a bit of water would work nicely.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest mistake when making crockpot cream cheese chicken is adding the cream cheese too early, which can cause it to separate and become grainy – instead, wait until the last 30-45 minutes of cooking to add it for the smoothest, creamiest sauce. Another common error is lifting the lid too frequently during cooking, as each peek can add 15-20 minutes to your cooking time and release essential moisture. To get the most flavor from this dish, don’t skip browning the chicken parts in 2 tablespoons of the melted butter before adding them to the crockpot – this extra step creates a deeper, richer taste and better texture. For the best results, cut your cream cheese into small cubes and let it come to room temperature before adding it to the crockpot, as this helps it blend more smoothly into the sauce without leaving lumps.
What to Serve With Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken?
This rich and creamy chicken dish calls for sides that can help balance out all that wonderful sauce! Rice is my go-to choice – whether it’s plain white rice, brown rice, or even cauliflower rice, they all work great for soaking up the creamy sauce. For vegetables, steamed broccoli or green beans are perfect choices since they can stand up to the richness of the dish without getting lost. If you want to keep things super simple, a side of egg noodles or mashed potatoes would make this meal even more comforting. I also like to serve some crusty bread on the side because, let’s be honest, you won’t want to leave any of that cream cheese sauce behind!
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: This creamy chicken dish stays good in the fridge for up to 4 days when stored in an airtight container. The sauce might thicken up a bit in the fridge, but don’t worry – that’s totally normal! It’s perfect for meal prep since the flavors actually get even better after a day or two.
Freeze: You can freeze this cream cheese chicken for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Just keep in mind that cream-based sauces can sometimes separate when frozen, but they usually come back together when reheated properly. I like to portion it out before freezing for easy weeknight dinners.
Reheat: To warm it up, heat slowly on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. If using the microwave, heat in 1-minute intervals at 50% power, stirring between each interval. If the sauce seems too thick, just add a splash of chicken broth or milk to thin it out.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 240-360 minutes |
| Total Time | 250-375 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2600-2900
- Protein: 200-220 g
- Fat: 180-200 g
- Carbohydrates: 40-50 g
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken parts
- 1 package italian dressing mix (about 2/3 ounce)
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted (split use)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 can cream of chicken soup (10.5 ounces)
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
Step 1: Prepare and Season the Chicken
Place your chicken pieces into a crock pot.
Once arranged, evenly sprinkle Italian seasoning over the chicken pieces.
Follow this by drizzling 2 tablespoons of melted butter over the seasoned chicken.
Step 2: Cook the Chicken
Set your crock pot to the low setting and let the chicken cook for 4 to 6 hours.
This slow cooking process ensures that the chicken becomes tender and flavorful.
Step 3: Prepare the Creamy Sauce
While the chicken is cooking, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Add in chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing them until they become translucent and fragrant.
Once the onion and garlic are ready, add a can of Cream of Chicken Soup, softened cream cheese, and some chicken broth to the saucepan.
Stir the mixture continuously until it becomes smooth and well blended.
Step 4: Combine and Finish Cooking
After the chicken has cooked for 4 to 6 hours, add the creamy sauce mixture from the saucepan into the crock pot.
Stir gently to combine the sauce with the chicken.
Continue cooking on low for an additional hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
Step 5: Serve
After the final hour of cooking, your creamy Italian chicken dish is ready to serve.
Spoon the chicken and sauce over cooked pasta, rice, or your preferred side dish.
Enjoy the rich, flavorful meal with your loved ones!