Pesto Chicken

 

4.41 from 86 votes

Slow Cooker Pesto Mozzarella Pasta

Slow Cooked chicken with pesto, lemon and butter. Then cooked pasta is added and topped with cheeses.

Prep Time15minutes mins

Cook Time5hours hrs

Total Time5hours hrs 15minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

 

Servings: 8

 

Author: Sarah Olson

Equipment

• Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger (I own and use this one from Crock-Pot)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs. chicken breasts (1.5-2 pounds works fine, 3 chicken breasts)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 8.1 oz. jarred pesto I used Classico (be sure to look at the ingredients if you have anyone allergic to nuts)
• 1/2 cup salted butter
• 1/2 lemon

These items don't get added until the end

• 1 lb. dried rotini pasta (cooked and drained, see directions for more info)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan (I use the powdery shake bottle type)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 tsp. dried basil to garnish

Instructions

• Add the chicken to the slow cooker. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Spread over the pesto, squeeze the lemon juice over the chicken. Cut the butter into slices and lay over the chicken.
• Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
• Near the end of the cooking time, cook the pasta according to the package directions and drain well.
• Shred the chicken with 2 forks. Add the cooked pasta and the parmesan cheese, stir everything until the pasta is coated with the buttery pesto sauce and the chicken is evenly dispersed throughout the pasta. Add the mozzarella cheese over the pasta. Cover for about 15 more minutes or until the cheese has melted.
• Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Can I omit the butter?

The butter is a main part of the recipe and makes a delicious buttery pesto pasta. You can use chicken broth instead (1/2 cup) though your recipe will be on the dry side.

Can I use chicken thighs instead?

You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat. Though be sure to trim them well.

Variations:

• Use a jar of sun-dried tomato pesto instead of basil pesto for a change
• Add sliced mushrooms for added texture.
• Change the pasta shape; you can use any hearty pasta shape such as bow-tie pasta or penne.

Nutrition

Calories: 633kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 888mg | Potassium: 484mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1204IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 279mg | Iron: 1mg

taken from: https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/wprm_print/slow-cooker-pesto-mozzarella-pasta

We all love this!  I do not add the pasta to the crockpot, I cook it separately.  I also have never added the dried basil at the end.  I've used the Costco Kirkland pesto, the Sam's Club Member's Mark pesto, and the Classico pesto and they have all been delicious.

Shredded Beef Enchiladas

 Shredded Beef Enchiladas

Beef Enchiladas made with tender shredded beef cooked in a simple homemade enchilada sauce, then layered in tortillas and cheese to make delectable enchiladas.

Prep Time

20 minutes mins

Cook Time

8 hours hrs

Total Time

8 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course: Main CourseCuisine: Mexican Servings: 10 Calories: 371kcal Author: Lauren Allen

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds chuck roast

salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cups low-sodium beef broth

1 cup salsa , your favorite kind, or substitute a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles

 

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon Dried oregano

2 Tablespoons cornstarch + 2 Tablespoons waters , mixed together to make a cornstarch slurry

10- 12 flour tortillas , or 12-15 corn tortillas (warmed on a dry hot skillet first)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

Season the roast on all sides with salt and pepper and place it in the bottom of your slow cooker.  

Whisk together beef broth, salsa, cumin, chili powder, oregano, onion powder, and garlic powder. Pour over roast.

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or until beef is tender and shreds easily. Remove roast to a large plate and shred.

Pour the sauce from the slow cooker into a saucepan over medium heat. Slowly whisk in cornstarch slurry. Cook for a few minutes until sauce begins to thicken. Taste and add additional salt and pepper, or other seasonings, if needed. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Pour 1/2 cup of sauce over the beef and toss. Fill each tortilla with a spoonful of shredded beef and shredded cheese. Roll up and place in the pan, seam-side down. 

Pour desired amount of sauce over the enchiladas. Top with remaining cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly.

Serve topped with optional garnishes of pico de gallo, sour cream, avocado, chopped cilantro or green onions and a side of Authentic Mexican Rice.

Notes

Instant Pot: Prepare the beef and sauce according to recipe instructions. Add them to the Instant Pot and cook on Manual/High Pressure for 75 minutes, with a 10 minute natural release. Proceed with recipe instructions for assembling and baking enchiladas.

Freezing Instructions: Prepared enchiladas can be frozen for up to 3 months, before baking. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then bake as instructed, or bake from frozen, covered in aluminum foil for about 1 hour 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes or until warm and bubbly. 

*I prefer to freeze the sauce separately, pouring it into a container from the slow cooker, to prevent the tortillas from getting soggy. Assemble the enchiladas but don't pour the sauce on top. Cover with aluminum foil. Thaw sauce and enchiladas overnight in the fridge. Warm the sauce in a saucepan and thicken with cornstarch, then pour over enchiladas and bake as instructed.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 736mg | Potassium: 557mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 385IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 201mg | Iron: 3.5mg

Recipe Taken from Tastes Better from Scratch website https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/wprm_print/shredded-beef-enchiladas

These turned out so yummy!  I used a lean beef roast from Costco.  These would probably be even better with a chuck roast with more fat for the flavor.