Description
This throw & go crock pot recipe features basil pesto, chicken, garden fresh vegetables, 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
Garnish
- 4 T – 1/2 cup pesto
- grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Rub inside of 3- to 4-quart slow cooker with olive oil to make clean up easier (optional).
Season the Chicken Breasts
- Arrange chicken in bottom of slow cooker. Sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Top one side of each chicken breast with 1 tablespoon of basil pesto. Spread with back of spoon to coat.
Layer Vegetables on Top
- Thickly slice all vegetables so they cook slowly. Top seasoned chicken with onions.
- Layer vegetables on top of onions. (If you like your vegetables crisper, add the onions then add the rest of the vegetables later in the cooking process., about one hour before serving.)
- Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.*
Serve Over Pasta
- Cook noodles according to package directions (in pan on the stove top) and drain.
- While the noodles are cooking, check to make sure the chicken in done. (There should be no visible pink, internal temperature should be 165° Fahrenheit/75° Celsius.) Turn the crock pot to “warm” setting.
- Turn off crock pot and remove chicken, slice into 1/2 inch slices.
- Drain extra liquid in crock pot off of the vegetables and discard.
- Toss vegetables, pasta, with the remaining pesto (4 tbsp-1/2 cup), and grated parmesan cheese (optional). (I combine everything in the crock pot that is turned off.)
- Serve chicken on a bed of noodles and vegetables. (Serve with extra pesto and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.)
Notes
*Add your vegetables about 1 hour before serving if you prefer al dente veggies.
*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. Adjust time for your slow cooker.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 750
