Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole with Noodles

If you loved our Crockpot chicken casserole with rice you are going to love this other version, chicken casserole with noodles!! We made this baby in our slow cooker but will include stovetop directions as well.

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Casserole

A third and final way you can make this same dish is to follow our quick and easy Instant Pot Chicken and Noodles recipe. The trick is to bubble and boil boneless skinless chicken breasts in your thick sauce, almost like a gravy. That will keep the meat super moist and so tender that they’ll shred with 2 forks.

If you choose to add mixed vegetables into the mix you can closer to the end so they too get softer. Frozen peas and carrots right out of the bag work well, mixed, or just green beans. Sour cream adds to the overall creaminess but not necessary if you don’t want to add that ingredient. We add a lot of cheese but that is up to you too.

Now you could easily make this as a chicken thigh recipe too if you prefer dark vs. white meat. I will say that they are typically smaller, have more flavor and overall more moist. If I find those on sale I will use those instead and takes closer to 5-6 hours vs. 6-8 that way.

Chicken Noodle Casserole Ingredients

• 2-3 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, small size
  • this is also great for What to Cook with Chicken Breast leftovers, would take a lot less time that way
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• Can cream of chicken soup
• Sour cream
• 2 tbsp paprika
• Onion powder and garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Oregano
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• Frozen vegetables
• Egg noodles uncooked
• 1 c cheddar cheese sharp, shredded
• 1/2 c fried onions

Now if you needed to make this dairy free chicken casserole you could. I’ve found lactose free cheese, sour cream and you can buy soup alternative here. Yes I have done this in the past when my husband was home and it is surprisingly close to the “normal” version.

I am sure you have had Crockpot chicken noodle soup before with these same pasta noodles, this is way more like a bowl of comfort food. They are both great, typically the other is served if you are feeling under the weather. This is much thicker and heartier, but has more calories.

How to Make Chicken and Noodle Casserole in Slow Cooker

• Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
• In pot mix together the soups, sour cream, and seasonings. Submerge the chicken into the sauce.
• Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. (timing depends on how thick they are, just until meat can be shredded with 2 forks)
• With two forks, shred the chicken.
• Stir in the mixed vegetables. Cover and continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes or until the vegetables are heated.
• Add the noodles to the slow cooker and stir to evenly coat the noodles with the sauce and chicken.
  • we used wide egg
  • other small or medium sized shells or elbow macaroni would work too
• Top the casserole with the cheese and add the lid until the cheese has melted and noodles are tender to your liking.
• Serve topped with the fried onions.

This is also one of our many leftover chicken breast recipes, or using rotisserie chicken too. It doesn’t take long at all to make it that way if the meat is already cooked. Just follow the same steps except you only need like 2 hours on low to warm up the protein again and let it soak in the sauce. If adding veggies, do so after 1.5 hours.

How to Make Chicken Casserole with Noodles on the Stove

• In pot mix together the soups, sour cream, and seasonings.
• Submerge the chicken into the sauce.
• Cover with a lid over medium heat so it is bubbling slowly so the meat can cook until it is fork tender enough to pull apart, about 30 minutes cooking time, that depends on thickness and whether it is bone-in chicken breasts or boneless.
• Once meat is shredded, add frozen vegetables and submerge.
• Allow to bubble until veggies are as tender as you like, about 10 minutes.
• Boil dry egg noodles ’til al dente in a pot on the stove separately.
• Drain cooked egg noodles and add into the meat and veggies pot.
• Fold together with half your cheese to melt. Serve with more cheese and fried onions on top of each bowlful.

If you do find that the sauce to you is too thick then just fold in a bit of chicken broth but we don’t find that necessary. As with any other oven baked or Crock pot chicken casserole recipe there are a lot of tweaks you can make to it. Use what you love and leave off what you don’t care for. Here are a few options;

Chicken Casserole with Noodles with Rotisserie Chicken

Like I said earlier, you can certainly use cooked boiled chicken breasts instead of raw, shred, and cut the timing by almost 1/4th. Precooked leftover meat is a great option as well and a great way to use up what you have. I have even made this after the holidays with diced up ham!!

What is a substitute for egg noodles in a recipe?

1. If you’re not concerned about using egg products, you can use regular pasta such as spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne as a substitute for egg noodles. These pasta types are widely available and come in various shapes and sizes.
2. Rice noodles are a gluten-free option and work well in many dishes. They are commonly used in Asian cuisine and can be found in different thicknesses.
3. Soba noodles are Japanese buckwheat noodles that can be a great substitute in various dishes. They have a slightly nutty flavor and are available in both traditional and whole wheat versions.
4. For a low-carb or gluten-free option, you can use air fryer zucchini noodles. These can be made using a spiralizer or purchased pre-spiralized in some stores.
5. Similarly, sweet potato noodles can be used as a substitute. They provide a slightly sweet and hearty flavor to dishes.
6. Spaghetti squash pasta can be made by baking it whole, then the flesh is scraped into strands that resemble spaghetti. While the texture is a bit different, it can work well in certain dishes.
7. Shirataki noodles are made from konjac flour and water. They are very low in calories and carbohydrates, making them suitable for low carb or calorie conscious diets.
8. Lentil or chickpea-based pasta is a high-protein, gluten-free option that can provide added nutritional value to your dish.
9. If the dish allows, you can use potato gnocchi as a substitute. They have a different texture but they can work in certain recipes.

When choosing a substitute, consider the flavor and texture of the alternative noodle and how well it will complement the other ingredients in your recipe. Keep in mind that the cooking time and method might need to be adjusted based on the type of noodle you choose.

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