The day I discovered my slow cooker could make pasta was a life-changing moment. I used to think my Crockpot was only good for slow-cooker pulled pork or cozy slow-cooker soup recipes. But then one year I tried making slow-cooker macaroni and cheese for Thanksgiving—and that decision has since spurred my love affair with all sorts of slow-cooker pasta recipes. This slow-cooker Boursin chicken pasta is one of my family’s favorites.

This recipe is similar to the viral baked feta pasta, but instead we nestle two blocks of Boursin cheese into the slow cooker to melt into the pasta as it cooks, creating the creamiest, divinely rich cheese sauce that you’ll ever make at home.

If you’ve never tried or heard of Boursin cheese, let me enlighten you. It’s a soft, spreadable processed cheese commonly known as Gournay cheese that’s derived mainly from cow’s milk and flavored with herbs, spices and other aromatic ingredients such as garlic, onions or shallots. In terms of flavor and consistency, it’s similar to goat cheese, being very creamy and possessing a rich, tangy and savory flavor.

Ingredients for Slow-Cooker Boursin Chicken Pasta

• Chicken breasts: Slow-cooker chicken recipes are always a smash hit. The meat is always tender and juicy, making any slow-cooker dinner rich in healthy, lean protein.
• Chicken broth: Chicken broth functions as a braising liquid for the chicken breasts and doubles as a flavorful way to cook and season the pasta. If you have homemade chicken broth, this is a terrific recipe in which to use it.
• Italian herbs and spices: A blend of Italian herbs, salt and pepper flavors the chicken broth and then gets absorbed into the chicken as it cooks so every bite is jam-packed with flavor.
• Garlic: While there is garlic in the Boursin cheese, also adding a few cloves of garlic to the chicken and broth adds extra depth to the dish.
• Heavy cream: A touch of heavy cream adds richness for a supremely creamy cheese sauce. For a lighter option, you can swap in half-and-half cream, if desired.
• Pasta: Cavatappi is our favorite pasta shape for this slow-cooker Boursin chicken cheese pasta. The tubular corkscrews fill with creamy sauce so every bite is as cheesy as possible.
• Sun-dried tomatoes: To prevent the pasta from becoming greasy, opt for vacuum-packed sun-dried tomatoes rather than those packed in oil.
• Boursin cheese: This versatile soft cheese can be crumbled over salads, stirred into sauces, melted over a juicy burger patty or served on a charcuterie board. If you haven’t hopped on the Boursin bandwagon yet, this recipe ought to do the trick.
• Parmesan: The salty sharpness of Parmesan pairs perfectly with the creamy, pungent flavor of Boursin cheese.

Taste of Home