Imagine coming home to the creamy, smoky goodness of BBQ mingled with tender chicken and pasta all done effortlessly in your Crock Pot. This Crock Pot BBQ Alfredo Chicken Pasta Recipe is one of those magic meals that feels indulgent but is totally hands-off—trust me, it’s a game changer on busy nights or when you want to impress without stress.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Crock Pot BBQ Alfredo Chicken Pasta Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Crock Pot BBQ Alfredo Chicken Pasta Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Crock Pot BBQ Alfredo Chicken Pasta Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
From the first time I made this Crock Pot BBQ Alfredo Chicken Pasta Recipe, I was hooked. The way the BBQ sauce infuses the creamy Alfredo, combined with juicy chicken and crispy bacon, creates a flavor party that keeps me coming back. Plus, it's practically foolproof with your slow cooker doing the heavy lifting.
- Ultimate Convenience: Toss everything in your Crock Pot, set it, and forget it until dinner’s ready—no stovetop babysitting needed.
- Flavor Fusion: The marriage of BBQ and Alfredo sauce is surprisingly delicious and totally crowd-pleasing.
- Perfect Comfort Food: Creamy, cheesy, smoky, and packed with tender chicken and pasta—it hits all the right spots on chilly nights.
- Customizable and Easy: You can swap in your favorite BBQ sauce or toss in extra veggies to suit your mood.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Crock Pot BBQ Alfredo Chicken Pasta Recipe plays a key role in flavor and texture. The chicken soaks up the sauce beautifully, while the heavy cream adds that velvety richness. Here’s a quick tour of why these components shine together—and what to watch for at the store.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Lean and easy to shred; cook evenly in the slow cooker without extra fat.
- Chicken broth: Adds depth and moisture, helping prevent dryness in the chicken and pasta.
- Butter: Cubed butter melts slowly, enriching the sauce with a silky texture.
- Chopped garlic: Fresh garlic amps up the flavor with its aromatic punch, much better than pre-minced for this recipe.
- Salt and pepper: Simple seasonings that bring all the flavors alive without overpowering.
- Spaghetti noodles: Breaking them in half helps them cook evenly right in the pot, soaking up all the delicious sauce.
- Heavy cream: Key to that creamy Alfredo base; don’t substitute for milk or it won’t thicken properly.
- BBQ sauce: The star ingredient for smoky, sweet tanginess—choose your favorite brand, whether bold or mild.
- Shredded parmesan: Adds a sharp, salty counterpoint and helps thicken the sauce as it melts.
- Bacon, cooked and chopped: Crispy bits sprinkled in for crunch and smoky goodness that takes the dish over the top.
Make It Your Way
I’ve played around with this Crock Pot BBQ Alfredo Chicken Pasta Recipe quite a bit, and it’s surprisingly versatile. Whether you're craving extra smoky, cheesy, or want a little heat, it’s easy to tweak.
- Variation: I once swapped out the Parmesan for mozzarella and added red pepper flakes for a spicy twist that was a huge hit with my family.
- Dietary swap: Use gluten-free pasta to make it friendly for gluten sensitivity without losing the creamy goodness.
- Veggie boost: Toss in diced bell peppers or mushrooms an hour before the end for extra texture and color.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Crock Pot BBQ Alfredo Chicken Pasta Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Crock Pot and Chicken
First things first, spray the inside of your Crock Pot with cooking spray—this prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier. Then, place your chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom. Pour in the chicken broth, toss in the cubed butter, sprinkle the chopped garlic, salt, and pepper over the top, and give it a gentle stir to combine.
Step 2: Let the Slow Cooker Do Its Magic
Pop the lid on and cook everything on HIGH for about 2 hours. This slow braising gives your chicken a tender, juicy texture that’ll soak up all the flavors perfectly. Avoid peeking too often to keep the heat consistent.
Step 3: Prep Pasta and Sauce
After 2 hours, carefully transfer the chicken to a cutting board using tongs. Break spaghetti noodles in half—this helps them fit and cook nicely in the pot. Add the noodles directly to the Crock Pot along with the heavy cream and BBQ sauce. Stir gently to combine everything.
Step 4: Cook Pasta and Slice Chicken
Recover the pot and cook on HIGH for another 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through so the pasta doesn’t stick. While it cooks, slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Step 5: Final Mix and Melt
Add the sliced chicken back to the Crock Pot along with shredded Parmesan and crispy chopped bacon. Stir everything well, put the lid back on, and cook for 15 more minutes on HIGH. This melts the cheese beautifully and lets all flavors marry.
Step 6: Add Extra Toppings and Serve
Just before serving, I like to drizzle a little extra BBQ sauce and sprinkle more chopped bacon on top for that extra wow factor. Grab a fork and enjoy the creamy, smoky, cheesy deliciousness!
Top Tip
From my many times making this dish, a few small tweaks made a big difference in perfecting the recipe. These tips saved me from sticky pasta and bland chicken—so give them a try!
- Don't Skip the Butter Cubes: Adding cold butter in cubes helps prevent the sauce from separating and adds rich creaminess that you’ll really notice.
- Break Your Pasta: Breaking spaghetti makes it easier to stir and cook evenly in the Crock Pot, no extra pots needed.
- Stir Halfway Through Pasta Cook: This keeps the noodles from clumping or sticking to the sides, ensuring perfect texture every time.
- Use Thick BBQ Sauce: Thicker sauces work best so they don’t dilute in the cream and give that punchy BBQ flavor we’re after.
How to Serve Crock Pot BBQ Alfredo Chicken Pasta Recipe
Garnishes
I usually finish with extra crispy bacon bits and a light drizzle of BBQ sauce to boost that smoky flavor. A sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley helps add a fresh pop of color and cuts through the richness nicely.
Side Dishes
This pasta is rich and filling, so I love pairing it with simple sides like a crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette or steamed broccoli to balance the creaminess. Garlic bread is always a crowd-pleaser too, perfect for sopping up any extra sauce.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I’ve served this dish family-style in a large casserole dish topped with fresh herbs and bacon crumbles so guests can help themselves. Another fun idea is to stuff bell peppers with the chicken pasta mixture, bake briefly, and serve as individual portions—always a hit!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The pasta tends to soak up a bit more sauce overnight, so it tastes even better the next day.
Freezing
This recipe freezes surprisingly well! Portion it out into freezer-safe containers, freeze for up to 3 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating gently on the stove or microwave.
Reheating
I recommend reheating leftovers slowly on the stovetop over medium-low heat with a splash of milk or broth to loosen the sauce and keep it creamy without drying out. Avoid microwaving straight from frozen to maintain the best texture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Chicken thighs will make the dish even juicier and more flavorful but may require slightly less cooking time since they’re smaller and fattier. Keep an eye on tenderness.
A thicker, richer BBQ sauce tends to work better so the sauce doesn’t get too runny. I often use a smoky or hickory-flavored BBQ sauce for deeper flavor, but sweet or spicy versions work too depending on your taste preference.
You can adapt it for an Instant Pot by using the sauté function for the chicken broth, butter, and garlic first, then pressure cooking the chicken and pasta together. Just be cautious to adjust the liquid levels and timing to avoid overcooked pasta.
Breaking the spaghetti in half, stirring once midway through cooking, and ensuring there’s enough liquid (broth and cream) help prevent sticking. Also, spraying the Crock Pot beforehand with cooking spray really helps with cleanup.
Final Thoughts
This Crock Pot BBQ Alfredo Chicken Pasta Recipe is hands down one of my go-to comfort meals for busy weeks or when I want to wow people with minimal effort. The blend of smoky BBQ with creamy Alfredo is unexpectedly dreamy, and the slow cooker makes everything so tender and flavorful. I hope you give it a try soon and love it as much as I do—it’s like a warm, cozy hug in a bowl.
Print
Crock Pot BBQ Alfredo Chicken Pasta Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Crock Pot BBQ Alfredo Chicken Spaghetti is a delicious and creamy one-pot meal featuring tender chicken breasts slow-cooked with garlic, butter, and chicken broth, then combined with spaghetti, heavy cream, BBQ sauce, parmesan cheese, and crispy bacon for a comforting and flavorful dinner.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup butter, cut into cubes
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 lb spaghetti noodles
- 3 cups heavy cream
- ⅓ cup BBQ sauce
- ½ cup shredded parmesan
- 6 strips of bacon, cooked and chopped
Optional Toppings
- additional BBQ sauce
- additional cooked and chopped bacon
Instructions
- Prepare the Crock Pot: Spray the inside of the Crock Pot well with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Add Chicken and Seasonings: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the pot. Add chicken broth, cubed butter, chopped garlic, salt, and pepper on top.
- Cook Chicken: Place the lid on the Crock Pot and set it to cook on HIGH for 2 hours until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Remove and Set Aside Chicken: Use tongs to transfer the cooked chicken breasts to a cutting board and set aside.
- Add Spaghetti and Liquids: Break the spaghetti noodles in half and add them to the pot. Pour in the heavy cream and BBQ sauce.
- Cook Spaghetti: Return the lid and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes, stirring the spaghetti once around the 15-minute mark to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking.
- Slice Chicken: While the spaghetti is cooking, slice the cooked chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine Ingredients: After the spaghetti has cooked for 30 minutes, add the sliced chicken, shredded parmesan cheese, and chopped cooked bacon to the pot. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Final Cooking: Replace the lid and continue cooking on HIGH for an additional 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld and cheese to melt.
- Serve with Toppings: Just before serving, top with additional BBQ sauce and chopped bacon if desired. Serve hot and enjoy your creamy BBQ Alfredo chicken spaghetti!
Notes
- Breaking the spaghetti noodles helps them fit better and cook evenly in the Crock Pot.
- Stirring halfway through the spaghetti cooking time prevents noodles from sticking together.
- You can use turkey bacon or omit bacon for a lighter version.
- The BBQ sauce choice will influence the sweetness and spice level; choose your favorite variety.
- Spraying the Crock Pot well is essential to prevent sticking due to the creamy sauce and noodles.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg

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