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    Home » Recipes » Crockpot Recipes » Chicken Pesto Pasta Easy Crock Pot Recipe

    Chicken Pesto Pasta Easy Crock Pot Recipe

    Published: Jul 11, 2016 · Modified: Apr 28, 2021 by Bren

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    This easy crock pot recipe features basil pesto, chicken, roast vegetables, and chicken. Serve it with pasta for a healthy and tasty dinner that takes just minutes to prepare.

    Chicken Pesto Pasta Easy Crockpot Recipe: This throw & go crock pot recipe features basil pesto, chicken, roast vegetable, and chicken. Serve it with pasta for a healthy and tasty dinner that takes just minutes to prepare.

    This post uses affiliate links. They don’t cost you a thing and help us bring easy recipes. Read more in Policies & Disclosures.

    In my life-before-kids I worked in the business world. While I don’t miss working in an office all day, I do miss my colleagues from those days…  and I definitely miss the catered lunches.

    What a luxury to have meals made by someone else!

    My favorite meals were from a local Italian restaurant. The simple but delicious menu featured ciabatta bread sandwiches with trays of roasted Italian vegetables.

    The vegetables, oh the vegetables! There were peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, and mushroom roasted with a bit of olive oil and basil. The flavors were amazing, I’m still dreaming about them 10 years later!

    Chicken Pesto Pasta Easy Crockpot Recipe: This throw & go crock pot recipe features basil pesto, chicken, roast vegetable, and chicken. Serve it with pasta for a healthy and tasty dinner that takes just minutes to prepare.

    Roast Vegetables in the Crock Pot

    I’ve recreated the roasted vegetable with basil flavor in this easy crock pot meal featuring chicken and pasta. You simply add chicken, pesto and vegetables and toss is pasta before serving.

    Don’t worry, the vegetables do not turn into piles of mush! The secret to this tasty recipe is in the layering of ingredients. The chicken is at the bottom of the crock pot where it gets the most cooking heat followed by the onions, and the rest of the vegetables. Keeping the squash, peppers and mushrooms on the top means they get steamed, but not cooked to death.

    Chicken Pesto Pasta Easy Crockpot Recipe: This throw & go crock pot recipe features basil pesto, chicken, roast vegetable, and chicken. Serve it with pasta for a healthy and tasty dinner that takes just minutes to prepare.

    Throw and Go Crock Pot Recipes

    I affectionately refer to this type of crock pot recipes as throw and go or dump and go. These recipes require no browning and no sauteing… you simply add the ingredients to the slow cooker and forget about it until dinner.

    I boil whole wheat rotini noodles to serve with the chicken and vegetables after we get home from car pool and sports practice. Toss the noodles with a bit of pesto, toss in the vegetables, top with sliced chicken and you have the perfect dinner.

    Chicken Pesto Pasta Easy Crockpot Recipe: This throw & go crock pot recipe features basil pesto, chicken, roast vegetable, and chicken. Serve it with pasta for a healthy and tasty dinner that takes just minutes to prepare.

    Dinner Supplies

    I love dishes and kitchenware, I wanted to share some of my favorites with you:

    • Crock Pot – My current slow cooker is a Crock-Pot 7-qt. Slow Cooker with a lovely chevron pattern (this Crock Pot is on my wishlist).
    • White Dishes – My sold white dishes have been replaced by these white dishes (these dot rim dishes are similar).
    • Napkins– My blue napkins are from Williams Sonoma.

     

    Print
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    Chicken Pesto Pasta Easy Crockpot Recipe: This throw & go crock pot recipe features basil pesto, chicken, roast vegetable, and chicken. Serve it with pasta for a healthy and tasty dinner that takes just minutes to prepare.

    Chicken Pesto Pasta Easy Crockpot Recipe

    ★★★ 2.7 from 3 reviews
    • Author: Bren
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 420 minutes
    • Total Time: 425 minutes
    • Yield: 6 servings 1x
    • Category: Main Dish
    • Method: Crock-Pot
    • Cuisine: Italian
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    This throw & go crock pot recipe features basil pesto, chicken, roast vegetable, and chicken. Serve it with pasta for a healthy and tasty dinner that takes just minutes to prepare.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 tsp olive oil (optional, use to grease inside of slow cooker for easier cleanup)

    Season the Chicken Breasts

    • 4 chicken breasts (thawed)
    • 1/2 tsp salt (to taste)
    • 1/4 tsp black pepper
    • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning (dried)
    • 1/2–3/4 cup basil pesto

    Layer Vegetables on Top

    • 1.5 cups zucchini (cut into 1/2 inch slices)
    • 1 cup yellow squash (cut into 1/2 inch slices)
    • 1 cup grape tomatoes (halved)
    • 1 cup red onion (about 1 small, cut into 1 inch slices)
    • 1 green pepper (cut into 1 inch slices)
    • 1 yellow peppers (cut into 1 inch slices)
    • 8 ounces white mushrooms (quartered)

    Serve Over Pasta

    • 1 lb whole wheat rotini

    Instructions

    1. Rub inside of 3- to 4-quart slow cooker with olive oil to make clean up easier (optional).

    Season the Chicken Breasts

    1. Arrange chicken in bottom of slow cooker. Sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
    2. Top one side of each chicken breast with 1 tablespoon of basil pesto. Spread with back of spoon to coat.

    Layer Vegetables on Top

    1. Thickly slice all vegetables so they cook slowly.  (If you like your vegetables crisper add them later in the cooking process.)
    2. Top seasoned chicken with onions.
    3. Layer vegetables on top of onions.
    4. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.*

    Serve Over Pasta

    1. Cook noodles according to package directions (in pan on stove top) and drain.
    2. While noodles are cooking, check to make sure chicken in done. (There should be no visible pink, internal temperature should be 165° Fahrenheit/75° Celsius.) Turn crock pot to “warm” setting.
    3. Turn off crock pot and remove chicken, slice into 1/2 inch slices.
    4. Drain extra liquid in crock pot off of the vegetables and discard.
    5. Toss vegetables, pasta, with remaining pesto(4 tbsp-1/2 cup). (I combine everything in the crock pot that is turned off.)
    6. Serve chicken on a bed of noodles and vegetables. (Serve with extra pesto and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.)

    Notes

    *Each slow cooker tends to cook at a slightly different speed. Watch new recipes closely the first time to find out exactly how long they take to cook to your liking. You should adjust all crock pot recipes for your slow or fast slow cooker.


    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
    • Calories: 750

    Keywords: slow cooker, chicken pesto pasta, pesto chicken

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @brendidblog on Instagram and hashtag it #brendid

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    More Easy Crock Pot Recipes

    I love crock pot dinners that require little to no prep. They are perfect for busy days and help keep healthy eating on track. Try these other easy crock pot recipes that are sure to become family favorites:

    • Crockpot Chicken Marsala with Mushrooms, Sun Dried Tomatoes and Spinach

    Crock Pot Chicken Marsala serving

    • Crock Pot Healthy Chicken Tacos

    BrenDidHealthy Crock Pot Chicken Tacos Recipe

    • Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Pineapple Chicken

    Sweet Chili Pineapple Chicken Easy Slow Cooker Meal– Easy crock pot recipe requires no thawing and uses just 4 somple ingredients: chicken, sweet chili sauce, pineapple and vegetables. In just 5 minutes you can prepare a delicious healthy slow cooker meal your whole family will love. Try it with your favorite vegetables including sweet pepper, pea pods, and broccoli. Healthy Crock Pot meal.

    • Crazy Easy Roast Chicken in the Slow Cooker

    Crazy Easy Roast Chicken in the Slow Cooker - This quick and easy whole chicken recipe will become a staple in your house. It is a healthy alternative to store-bought rotisserie chicken with a wonderful flavor, crispy skin and tender meat.

    • Braised Beef Barbecue

    Braised Beef Barbecue easy crock pot recipe

     

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    BrenDId

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. r

      December 04, 2017 at 12:13 pm

      Will frozen chicken breasts work ? If yes, on what settings ? High/low for howlong ? Thanks

      Reply
      • Bren

        December 04, 2017 at 7:42 pm

        I’ve never made it with frozen chicken, if you want to try I would start with 4 hours on high then check to see if the chicken in done.

        Reply
    2. Erica

      September 13, 2017 at 10:26 am

      I have made this several times and I actually like the “mushiness” factor..:I call it “stewed chicken,” every body lighten up! It’s just chicken! I appreciate you sharing recipes and putting yourself out there Bren. Ps I add the veggies layer so they are less mushy.

      ★★★★

      Reply
      • Erica

        September 13, 2017 at 10:27 am

        Add veggies *later, and give them only an hour to cook …sorry about the typo

        Reply
      • Bren

        September 13, 2017 at 12:53 pm

        Thanks, Erica! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!

        Reply
    3. Mary

      August 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm

      4 hrs on low was spot on for my chicken. Used fresh homemade pesto both in the crockpot and on the side. Not as flavorful as I’d hoped, will tweak my pesto and play with more herbs.

      ★★★

      Reply
      • Bren

        August 13, 2017 at 5:29 pm

        Thanks for sharing your results, Mary!

        Reply
    4. Libby

      July 16, 2017 at 7:06 pm

      Hi Bren,

      I have a jar of pesto I’m trying to use up and a fresh zucchini from the garden, so this looks like the perfect recipe to try this week! One quick question though–my fiance can’t stand onions (so I sadly have to forgo them in most recipes) but it sounds like they’re used in this recipe to prop up the other veggies off of the chicken and keep them from overcooking and getting mushy. If I go without the onions, do you think I should add another similar vegetable to help separate the layers in the crock pot? Any suggestions?

      Thanks for sharing this great, easy recipe!

      Reply
      • Bren

        July 18, 2017 at 9:35 pm

        I would put a “tougher” vegetable on top of the chicken to pop up the other vegetables or simply add the vegetables later in the cooking time. Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Angie

      November 30, 2016 at 5:09 pm

      Tried this recipe today. It turned out great. I have a fast cooking crock, so I cooked on low for about 4 hours and it was done. Served it with microwavable brown rice instead of pasta just to limit the amount of ‘cooking’ that I needed to do. 😉

      Reply
      • Bren

        December 01, 2016 at 3:02 pm

        I’m s glad you enjoyed the recipe! The brown rice sounds great too.

        Reply
    6. Kristin

      October 30, 2016 at 6:33 pm

      Turned into mush after 2.5 hours on high. The chicken is now shredded and soggy! I’m really bummed 🙁

      ★

      Reply
      • Bren

        October 30, 2016 at 9:32 pm

        Sorry you were disappointed in the recipe, Kristin. You must have a “hot” slow cooker if the chicken was overcooked after 2.5 hours. As I mention in the recipe, each slow cooker tends to cook at a slightly different speed. You should always watch new recipes closely the first time to find out exactly how long they take to cook to your liking. I adjust all crock pot recipes for my personal cock pot and my taste.

        Reply
    7. Lisa

      October 16, 2016 at 8:10 pm

      Love love love this recipe… considered trying hummus instead of pesto think it would work?

      Reply
      • Bren

        October 16, 2016 at 8:17 pm

        Hmmm, I’m not sure how it would work, I’ve never cooked with hummus. I think a vinaigrette dressing might work better to give the chicken/vegetables an herb flavor.

        Reply
    8. Law

      September 27, 2016 at 6:59 pm

      Wasn’t able to cook in the crock Pot because I woke up late. lol…. I grilled the chicken first then baked all the ingredients with the grilled chicken in the oven and let me tell you it was the bomb.com! FYI, my daughter is deadly allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. Pine nuts are NOT a peanut or tree nut,it’s a seed. Totally safe for her to eat. Thanks for the recipe. Keep them coming!

      Reply
      • Bren

        September 28, 2016 at 10:39 am

        I’m so glad to hear that you loved the recipe! Thanks for the information on pine nuts, I had no idea!

        Reply
    9. Cassie

      August 22, 2016 at 4:17 pm

      I followed the recipe, but after 6 hours on low the chicken was over cooked and mushy and the veggies had pretty much disappeared. We also couldn’t even taste the pesto. Maybe my expectation were too high, but I was really disappointed.

      Reply
      • Bren

        August 22, 2016 at 9:49 pm

        Sorry you were disappointed, Cassie. Crock pot cooking is an art since each slow cooker tends to cook at a different speed. I watch new recipes closely the first time I make them to find out exactly how long they take to cook. If your vegetables disappeared after 6 hours you definitely have a “hotter” slow cooker. For those who like more pesto flavor you can add pesto to taste when you toss the vegetables with the cooked noodles.

        Reply
    10. Gloria

      August 20, 2016 at 9:22 am

      Could frozen veggies work with this recipie?

      Reply
      • Bren

        August 20, 2016 at 2:05 pm

        You could but they might get mushy cooking for a long time in the crock pot. I would probably just heat them in the microwave and add to the crockpot in the last few minutes.

        Reply
        • Meg

          October 02, 2016 at 1:10 pm

          Thanks! This was my question too. I can’t wait to try this!

          Reply
          • Bren

            October 02, 2016 at 6:36 pm

            Hope you enjoy!

            Reply
    11. Stephanie Wilhelm

      August 19, 2016 at 5:54 pm

      I was looking for nutritional value on this recipe! Any help on that ..or at least on calories?? I just made this for my family KID APPROVED!!! Only thing I did different was added graded parmesan cheese and they loved that …I also was wondering what you did to the pesto ? Did you add it straight from jar or mix with something?! Great meal can’t wait till we have this again…Next Instead of the pasta I am going to try Spaghetti Squash =)

      Reply
      • Bren

        August 19, 2016 at 6:09 pm

        It’s about 383-430 calories if you divide it into 8 servings (depending on the calories in the pesto you use, mine is 130 calories an ounce). I add the pesto straight from the jar, some to the top of the chicken and some mixed into to cooked noodles. The Parmesan sounds great!

        Reply
    12. Amy

      August 19, 2016 at 11:29 am

      Can this be frozen prior to cooking? There are only 3 people in my family, all light eaters. I was thinking instead of halving everything(I haven’t seen half peppers in the grocery store), to go ahead and prep the recipe according to your instructions, and then put half back to be frozen.

      Reply
      • Bren

        August 19, 2016 at 1:15 pm

        I have not tried freezing it, but it should work. Your vegetables will be softer after freezing and cooking but will still taste good.

        Reply
      • Tammy

        March 06, 2018 at 2:04 pm

        Amy, have you tried to freeze yet? If so how’d it come out

        Reply
    13. Cassie

      August 13, 2016 at 6:38 pm

      I’m making this dish for the first time. Do you toss the Noodles in the pesto too? Maybe I’m step 7 with the veggies?
      It’s about to come out of the crockpot. I’m excited to try something different. We mostly have Mexican dishes with chicken in the crockpot.

      Reply
      • Bren

        August 13, 2016 at 9:04 pm

        Cook the noodles and then toss them with the vegetables just before serving. You can add extra pesto to the noodles if desire, my people love pesto so I add a bit extra. Hope you enjoy!

        Reply

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