Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients:
2 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 (12 oz.) Bottle of Buffalo Wild Wings Parmesan Garlic Sauce (Note: This sauce is higher in points, so use sparingly or substitute with a lower-point sauce if possible)
1 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk (or skim milk for a few more points)
4 oz Reduced-Fat Cream Cheese, cut into blocks
1/2 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese (use reduced-fat if possible)
12 oz Whole Wheat Pasta (or a lower-point pasta like chickpea pasta)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions:
Prepare the Crockpot: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts at the bottom of the crockpot.
Add Sauce: Pour the entire bottle of Buffalo Wild Wings Parmesan Garlic Sauce over the chicken. (If you’re looking to lower points, use about 3/4 of the bottle or find a low-point garlic Parmesan sauce alternative.)
Prepare Sauce Mixture: Fill the empty sauce bottle with unsweetened almond milk (or skim milk), shake it to mix any remaining sauce, and pour into the crockpot.
Add Cream Cheese: Place the blocks of reduced-fat cream cheese into the crockpot.
Add Parmesan Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded Parmesan cheese over the chicken and sauce mixture.
Combine Ingredients: Gently stir everything together to ensure the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce mixture.
Cook Low and Slow: Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
Shred Chicken: Once the chicken is cooked, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the crockpot.
Cook Pasta: While the chicken is cooking, prepare the whole wheat pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.
Combine and Serve: Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the crockpot with the shredded chicken and sauce. Stir well to combine everything.
Serve Warm: Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired.
Weight Watchers Points:
Chicken Breasts: 0 points (for skinless, boneless chicken breasts)
Parmesan Garlic Sauce: Estimated at 9-12 points for 3/4 of the bottle (depending on the brand used, check your specific sauce for accurate points)
Unsweetened Almond Milk: 0 points
Reduced-Fat Cream Cheese: Approximately 6 points for 4 oz (check your brand for accurate points)
Shredded Parmesan Cheese: 4 points for 1/2 cup
Whole Wheat Pasta: Approximately 12 points for 12 oz (check the package for accurate points)
Total Points: Approximately 31-34 points for the entire recipe. Divide by the number of servings (e.g., 6 servings would be about 5-6 points per serving).