Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken (Freezer-to-Crockpot Perfection!)
Let me set the scene.
It’s 5:12 p.m. The group text is blowing up. Your phone just reminded you about a meeting you forgot you agreed to. The dog’s barking at the UPS truck. The laundry you “folded” yesterday is still on the back of a chair—and everyone in your house? They’re suddenly starving. Again.
Sound familiar?
If you’ve ever stood in front of the fridge with that blank stare wondering how you’re going to pull a dinner rabbit out of your exhausted hat… I see you. I am you. And I have your solution: Buy Once. Prep Once. Eat Twice.
This Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken is not only a delicious weeknight dinner—it’s also a gift to your future self. It’s the dinner you prep now so that one day, three weeks from now when everything is chaos, you can still put a hot, comforting meal on the table without a single ounce of panic.
💁🏼♀️ Why This Recipe Works (Especially for Real Life)
We’re not playing around here. This recipe was designed for:
People who are busy (read: everyone). People who are tired (also everyone). And people who still want to serve something that tastes like a warm hug in a bowl.
This recipe is the culinary equivalent of wrapping yourself in a soft blanket, turning on a favorite show, and knowing dinner is DONE.
Let’s break it down.
🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need
You’re about to fall in love with how simple this is:
🍗 8–10 chicken tenders 🥫 2 jars (15 oz each) Alfredo sauce 🍅 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes 🌿 1 tsp Italian seasoning 🧀 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 🧄 2 tbsp minced garlic 🥬 1 bunch fresh spinach 🍄 1 cup mushrooms 🧂 Salt + pepper to taste
If you’re someone who likes to customize based on what’s in your fridge, go for it. You can add extra veggies, swap cheeses, or even use rotisserie chicken in a pinch.
🧊 How to Make It a Freezer Meal
Let me just say this loud for the meal preppers in the back: Freezer meals are your lifeline. They don’t mean you’re fussy. They mean you’re smart. Because when life hits fast and hard (and it will), your freezer will be fully stocked with comfort.
Here’s how to prep it:
Combine everything except the spinach, mushrooms, salt, and pepper into a gallon-size freezer bag. Squeeze out the air, seal it, and label it. Don’t skip the label—future you has no idea what “that bag of creamy stuff” is in three months. Lay flat and freeze. It stacks beautifully, thaws quickly, and saves your sanity later.
✅ It will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer.
⏲️ When You’re Ready to Cook
Cooking it couldn’t be easier if the chicken cooked itself.
Step-by-step:
Thaw overnight in the fridge. Dump contents into your crockpot. Add the mushrooms and fresh spinach on top. Cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
Done. That’s it. Walk away and let that slow cooker work its magic while you do literally anything else—like hide in the laundry room for peace and quiet.
🍽️ What to Serve It With
This dish plays well with others. Here are a few serving suggestions to match your vibe:
Serve it over buttered pasta (fettuccine or penne are great). Pour it over garlic mashed potatoes for cozy vibes. Spoon it onto toasted bread like an open-faced sandwich. Pair with rice or cauliflower rice for a lighter version. Add more spinach at the end for a veggie boost.
And yes, garlic bread is a must. This is creamy, cheesy goodness—we are not trying to be subtle.
👩🏼🍳 Let’s Talk Strategy
You know I love a recipe that solves a problem, and this one does just that.
It eliminates that “what’s for dinner?” spiral, gives you a freezer backup, and makes you feel like you have your life together even when your sock drawer says otherwise.
Here’s what I do:
Make a double batch. One goes in the crockpot for dinner tonight. One goes in the freezer for a future emergency.
Buy once. Prep once. Eat twice.
No stress. No extra shopping. No dirty dishes round two.
🙋🏼♀️ Real Life Review
I’ve served this to my family, to friends, to overnight guests—and every single time, someone asks, “Wait, you made this?”
Yup. Me. The same woman who just hid from the UPS man because I wasn’t wearing a bra.
This is the kind of recipe that makes you look like you tried… without actually having to try that hard. And that, my friend, is what we call dinner goals.
🧠 Freezer Meal Tips (From a Seasoned Prepper)
If you’re new to freezer cooking, let me save you some trial and error with a few tips:
Freeze flat: Saves space and helps thaw evenly. Double bag if needed: Especially if you’re using thin freezer bags or heavy sauces. Always label it: Include the name, date, and cooking instructions. Use a bin or basket in your freezer to keep meals organized (and easy to pull out when needed).
If you’re feeling ambitious, make a few freezer meals at once and batch them with similar ingredients. It makes a huge difference in your weekly dinner routine.
🔄 Ingredient Swaps & Shortcuts
Don’t have exactly what’s listed? You can totally improvise. Here’s how:
Swap chicken tenders for boneless chicken thighs or breasts. Use jarred roasted red peppers in place of diced tomatoes. Sub kale or arugula for spinach. Add a handful of sun-dried tomatoes for a little zing. Out of Alfredo? Use a combo of cream cheese and milk (or heavy cream + Parmesan).
You really can’t mess this one up—it’s that forgiving.
❓FAQs
Q: Can I use cooked chicken instead?
A: Absolutely! Just shorten the cook time to 3–4 hours and add the cooked chicken during the last hour so it doesn’t dry out.
Q: Can I make this in the Instant Pot?
A: Yes! Just pressure cook on high for about 12 minutes, then do a quick release. Stir in spinach and mushrooms after cooking.
Q: How do I know it’s done?
A: The chicken should shred easily with a fork and be fully cooked through (165°F internal temperature).
📝 Save This One, Trust Me
If you’ve ever found yourself frantically Googling “easy chicken recipes” with a toddler on your hip or a to-do list a mile long—this is your solution. Print it, pin it, tattoo it on your arm. Whatever it takes.
Because Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken is the freezer meal that will save your dinner, your week, and maybe even your sanity.
Want the cute little printable version or recipe card graphic? Just comment MEAL PREP and I’ll send it right over.
🫶 Final Thoughts
Dinner doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be fussy. And it definitely doesn’t have to be complicated.
This Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken proves that a handful of ingredients, a little freezer space, and a dash of planning can give you not one—but two comforting, crowd-pleasing meals with barely any extra work.
So do yourself a favor:
Make one for tonight.
Freeze one for later.
And breathe a little easier knowing dinner’s handled.
Because let’s be honest—there are days when just feeding everyone feels like a miracle. And this? This is your miracle in a crockpot.
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