Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Tortellini (Creamy & Easy)
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This Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Tortellini is a creamy, restaurant-style pasta dish that looks fancy but is surprisingly easy to make. Well-seasoned, tender chicken slow cooks in a flavorful broth until perfectly juicy, then refrigerated tortellini, cheeses, and cream are stirred in at the end to create a rich, velvety sauce. It’s the kind of comforting yet elegant meal that works beautifully for Valentine’s Day, date night, or anytime you want a special dinner without standing over the stove.
What makes this slow cooker recipe especially foolproof is adding the tortellini at the very end of the cooking time. Refrigerated tortellini holds up best in the slow cooker, staying tender instead of mushy, while soaking up all that creamy, savory flavor. You can use any filled tortellini you enjoy, but chicken-and-mozzarella is a favorite here because it complements the seasoned chicken and creamy sauce perfectly.
To round out the meal, serve this creamy tortellini with a side of garlic bread and a fresh green salad. Making a batch of my easy garlic spread ahead of time makes the garlic bread quick and effortless. For the salad, my Spinach Blue Cheese Salad is a great option, or you can keep it simple with a classic green salad tossed in Strawberry Vinaigrette. Either choice adds a fresh, colorful contrast that gives the whole meal an extra special, Valentine’s-day-worthy touch.
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Tortellini
- BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREASTS
- CREAM CHEESE
- CHICKEN BROTH
- SUNDRIED TOMATOES
- GARLIC POWDER
- ITALIAN SEASONING
- PEPPER
- SALT
- REFRIGERATED TORTELLINI (I RECOMMEND TORTELLINI FILLED WITH CHICKEN AND MOZZARELLA)
- MOZZARELLA CHEESE
- PARMESAN CHEESE
- HEAVY CREAM
- FRESH PARSLEY OR FRESH BASIL LEAVES, OPTIONAL FOR GARNISH
Instructions for CROCK POT Marry Me Chicken Tortellini
Add the cubed chicken breasts to the bottom of your slow cooker, spreading them out so they cook evenly. Sprinkle the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. This gives the chicken a flavorful base before everything starts to simmer together.
Pour in the chicken broth, then add the sun‑dried tomatoes and the cubes of cream cheese. The cream cheese will melt slowly as it cooks, creating that rich, velvety sauce Marry Me Chicken is known for. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 2 hours, just until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
After 2 hours, remove the lid and give everything a good stir to help the cream cheese fully incorporate into the sauce. Add the heavy cream, mozzarella, and Parmesan, stirring again until the cheeses begin to melt into the mixture. Gently fold in the tortellini, making sure it’s coated in the creamy sauce.
Cover the slow cooker again and continue cooking on low for about 20 more minutes, or until the tortellini are soft and cooked to your liking. (Keep an eye on it—fresh tortellini cooks quickly.)
Once everything is perfectly creamy and the tortellini is tender, spoon the Marry Me Chicken Tortellini into bowls. Finish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley or an extra dusting of Parmesan for a beautiful, flavorful touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen chicken?
Yes, but it will increase the cooking time. For the best texture and even cooking, thawed chicken breasts work beautifully in this recipe.
Do I need to cook the tortellini before adding it?
No. Add the tortellini straight from the package. It cooks directly in the creamy sauce during the final 20 minutes.
Can I use a different type of tortellini?
Absolutely. Cheese tortellini is classic, but spinach‑filled or three‑cheese varieties also work well. Avoid meat‑filled tortellini since the dish already includes chicken.
Can I substitute the heavy cream?
Half‑and‑half will work in a pinch, but the sauce won’t be quite as rich or thick. Milk isn’t recommended because it may curdle in the slow cooker.
What if my sauce looks separated before stirring?
Totally normal. The cream cheese melts in pockets during the first cook. Once you stir everything at the 2‑hour mark, it becomes smooth and creamy.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Yes. Boneless, skinless thighs stay tender and juicy and can be swapped in with no changes to the cooking time.
How do I keep the tortellini from getting mushy?
Add it only during the final 20 minutes of cooking and check it early. Fresh tortellini cooks quickly and can over‑soften if left too long.
Can I make this ahead of time?
You can prep the chicken, seasonings, broth, and sun‑dried tomatoes in the slow cooker insert the night before. Add the dairy and tortellini only when cooking.
How should I store leftovers?
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The sauce thickens as it chills, so add a splash of broth or cream when reheating.
For more recipes like this, try:
- Easy Baked Tortellini
- Beef Enchilada Tortellini Skillet
- Tortellini with Tomato Cream Sauce
- Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup
Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Tortellini (Creamy & Easy)
Real Mom Kitchen
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil chopped
- 8 oz cream cheese cut into cubed
- 20 oz refrigerated tortellini I like to use the chicken mozzarella filled kind
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- fresh parsley chopped (optional for serving)
Instructions
- Add the cubed chicken breasts to the slow cooker and sprinkle with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Add in the chicken broth, sun-dried tomatoes, and cubed cream cheese. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.
- Next, give it all a stir and add in the cream, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine. Add in the cream cheese and stir together again. Cover and cook for 20 more minutes or until the tortellini is tender. Dish up and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley or more Parmesan cheese for serving.
Nutrition
This recipe is adapted from Recipes from Scotty.
