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Chicken dinner recipes can be delicious even when you only use a few ingredients like this Slow Cooker 3 Ingredient Pesto Chicken recipe.
Enjoy deliciously creamy chicken with store-bought pesto for so simple recipe the entire family can enjoy on one of those busy weeknights and with minimal effort to make it happen.
You cannot get a more delicious meal with 3 simple ingredients like this creamy pesto chicken recipe.
Add this recipe to your menu for the week or favorite crockpot recipes when you want a simple yet delicious chicken recipe to enjoy.
Ingredients for Slow Cooker 3 Ingredient Pesto Chicken:
- Protein: have raw boneless skinless chicken breasts (or chicken tenderloins)
- Sauce: you will need to get your favorite brand of basil pesto
- Cheese: have cream cheese that has been softened at room temperature for easy mixing for the creamy sauce
How to make Slow Cooker 3 Ingredient Pesto Chicken:
In a medium bowl, combine the basil pesto and softened cream cheese. Stir until well combined.
Place the chicken in the slow cooker and top with the pesto mixture.
Cover and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours, or on high heat for 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked.
Shred the chicken using two forks or a meat masher and stir it well with the sauce.
Serve the pesto chicken over cooked rice, egg noodles, cauliflower rice, mashed potatoes, or in a baked potato.
How to store leftover slow cooker pesto chicken:
Fridge: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place the leftover chicken into an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Tips and tricks for making this slow cooker chicken recipe:
Chicken to use:
Feel free to use boneless chicken breast as this recipe is written or use skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenders in place of the chicken breasts.
Either way, it will still be a great recipe.
Can I make homemade pesto?
If you have fresh basil leaves, olive oil, and garlic, you are more than welcome to make homemade pesto sauce to use in place of a jar of pesto for this crockpot pesto chicken recipe.
Can I use an Instant Pot to make this chicken recipe?
You are more than welcome to use an Instant Pot to make this recipe, just cook it at 8-9 minutes on high pressure for raw chicken and let it naturally release for 10 minutes.
You could also use the slow cooker function on the Instant Pot to make this recipe as well.
How to serve this pesto chicken:
The best way to serve this pesto chicken over noodles or rice, topped with parmesan cheese, and your favorite sides like green beans or roasted broccoli.
More chicken recipes:
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken with Zucchini
- Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
- Rotisserie Chicken Bacon Alfredo
- Cheesy Chicken Taquitos
Easy Slow Cooker 3 Ingredient Pesto Chicken
Equipment
- Medium bowl
Ingredients
- 2 ½ lbs chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins
- 1 cup basil pesto
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the basil pesto and softened cream cheese. Stir until well combined.
- Place the chicken in the slow cooker and top with the pesto mixture.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours, or on high for 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked.
- Shred the chicken using two forks or a meat masher and stir it well with the sauce.
- Serve the pesto chicken over cooked rice, egg noodles, cauliflower rice, mashed potatoes, or in a baked potato.
Nutrition
Quick links for making dinner easy:
- Family meal plans
- Tools for the kitchen and more
- The best cookbook for family dinner recipes
- FREE budget meal plan
- Cooking videos to watch
If you give these recipes a try, make sure to tag us on Instagram @julia.pacheco.cooking and let us know how much you liked the recipes!