Chicken & Bowtie Dinner

This is a comfort food type meal in the crock pot -- what could be better?  It won't knock your socks off, but it's something a little different to help you change things up a little.  My MIL made it first, and then we changed it up a little because it was way too salty.



Chicken & Bowtie Dinner

1/2 c butter, sliced
4 to 5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 - .6 oz pkgs zesty Italian salad dressing mix (I used one)
2 Tbs minced onion (I just sprinkled some on -- 1 tsp maybe)
8 oz pkg cream cheese, cubed
2 - 10 3/4 oz cans cream of chicken soup
12 oz pkg bowtie pasta, cooked
Optional: 10 oz pkg frozen baby peas, thawed

Place butter in the bottom of a slow cooker.  Layer chicken breasts over butter; sprinkle with dressing mix and onion.  Cover and cook on low setting for 4 to 5 hours.  Remove chicken from slow cooker; dice into bite-size pieces and set aside.  Add cream cheese and soup to slow cooker; stir together.  Stir in chicken; cover and cook on high setting for 15 minutes, until sauce is warmed through.  Add cooked pasta and peas, if desired, to slow cooker and toss to mix well.  Cover and let stand for several minutes until warmed through.  Can serve with shredded or grated parmesan cheese on top.  Serves 6 to 8.

Recipe from Gooseberry Patch "Slow Cookers, Casseroles & Skillets" cookbook.