Description
This Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken recipe offers tender, juicy chicken breasts simmered with sautéed onions, mushrooms, and garlic, all enriched with creamy cream cheese and topped with melted mozzarella. Perfect for a comforting and easy meal, it requires minimal prep and lets the slow cooker do the work.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sautéed Vegetables
- 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 8 oz. white button mushrooms, halved or sliced if very large
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy
- 6 oz. plain cream cheese (regular or 1/3 less fat)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Sprinkle the chicken breasts evenly with kosher salt and black pepper, then place them in the slow cooker insert.
- Sauté the vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add chopped onions and mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are tender, about 7 to 8 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds to release its aroma.
- Combine in slow cooker: Transfer the sautéed onions, mushrooms, and garlic to the slow cooker on top of the chicken breasts. Dollop the cream cheese evenly over the vegetables and chicken.
- Cook the chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or on low for 5 to 6 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Shred and mix: Remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and shred or chop them into bite-sized pieces. Stir the cream cheese into the cooking liquid in the slow cooker until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir to evenly coat with the sauce.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the coated chicken. Cover the slow cooker again and let it sit on warm or turned off for 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese melts.
- Serve: Serve the creamy melted mozzarella chicken hot. Enjoy as a flavorful, comforting main dish.
Notes
- You can substitute the mozzarella cheese with Parmesan or a cheese blend if preferred.
- For a lower-fat version, use reduced-fat cream cheese and mozzarella.
- Serve with rice, pasta, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat nicely.
- Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
