Slow Cooker Cajun Ranch Chicken Pasta
Creamy, smoky, mildly spicy southern comfort food made easy in the slow cooker — juicy shredded chicken thighs, homemade cajun seasoning, melted cream cheese, ranch dressing, and crispy bacon tossed with penne, a perfect weeknight dinner for the family in one pot.
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Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 876kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 2 lbs chicken thighs fresh or frozen, thawed to room temp.
- 3 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 3 tablespoon Ranch Dressing
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 5 oz cream cheese brought to room temp. and cubed
- 10 oz Penne Pasta
- 3 bacon strips
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil to crisp the Bacon
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place the boneless chicken thighs (thawed to room temp. and pat dried with a clean kitchen towel) into the slow cooker. Sprinkle Cajun seasoning, Garlic Powder, Salt and Pepper, evenly over the chicken, then pour 3 tablespoons ranch dressing on top. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
- Once cooked through, shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker using two forks, right in the sauce.
- Scatter cream cheese, cubed over the shredded chicken. Cover and let sit so the cheese softens, then stir until smooth.
- Meanwhile boil penne pasta until just done, reserving ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Add the drained pasta to the slow cooker. Stir in the reserved pasta water a little at a time.
- Crisp bacon strips in a skillet, chop once cooled, and sprinkle over the pasta just before serving.
Video
Notes
Tips
- Cut cream cheese into small cubes before adding — it melts faster and more evenly, and stirring while it's still warm prevents lumps.
- Don't add extra water beyond the reserved pasta water; the chicken releases its own juices during the long cook, so the sauce can turn watery if over-diluted.
- Taste before adding extra salt — both cajun seasoning and ranch dressing already carry sodium.
- If the sauce thickens too much after combining, loosen it with a splash more pasta water rather than plain water, since it carries starch that helps the sauce cling to the pasta OR you can use Milk as well
- Add the pasta only at the very end so it doesn't turn mushy from sitting in the warm sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Cajun Ranch Chicken Pasta
Amount Per Serving
Calories 876
Calories from Fat 567
% Daily Value*
Fat 63g97%
Saturated Fat 18g113%
Trans Fat 0.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 13g
Monounsaturated Fat 26g
Cholesterol 255mg85%
Sodium 808mg35%
Potassium 751mg21%
Carbohydrates 29g10%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 47g94%
Vitamin A 2970IU59%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 93mg9%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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