Slow Cooker Sour Cream Noodles

Are you looking for a comforting dinner tonight? These slow cooker sour cream noodles are rich and creamy and a cinch to prepare for a busy weeknight meal! I love using my slow cooker to make easy, comforting pasta dishes. 

Tossing in some dry noodles into a rich broth and letting the crockpot do the work is truly life changing. Adding a dollop of tangy sour cream makes this dish into a dreamy meal that everyone will be begging for.

Why You Will Love This Meal

This comforting pasta dish has such a creamy texture that you will love! The noodles absorb the broth as they cook in the slow cooker, resulting in a tender and delicious noodle. Stirring in sour cream right before serving gives it a creamy, dreamy texture that makes every bite taste amazing.

Best of all, there is no boiling and no draining of a colander and heavy pot! Simply add your ingredients to your slow cooker and let it do all the work while you sit back and relax. This is a great no fuss dinner option when you’re short on time, but still want to enjoy a warm, comforting meal.

What You Need

Here is everything you will need to make this comforting slow cooker meal:

Egg Noodles

Egg noodles are the best option for this recipe as they hold up well in the slow cooker. If you don’t have egg noodles, you could also use penne or rotini, however the cook times might vary.

Chicken Broth

Chicken broth is the base of the sauce that the noodles cook in. It adds so much more flavor than plain water would. If you want a vegetarian option, you could easily swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth.

Sour Cream

Sour cream is the star ingredient that adds both flavor and richness to this dish. Be sure to add it at the end so that it does not curdle from the heat of the slow cooker. If you don’t have sour cream, you could use plain Greek yogurt instead.

Cream Cheese

Cream cheese adds some thickness to the sauce, making it even richer and more decadent. Make sure that your cream cheese is cubed and slightly softened so it can easily melt into the hot noodles. If you don’t have cream cheese, you could easily skip it, but avoid using fat free cream cheese as it won’t melt well.

How to Make It

Here’s how to make the slow cooker creamy garlic noodles:

Combine the base

Start by adding the chicken broth, one stick of butter, garlic powder, and onion powder to your slow cooker. Give everything a quick stir, just enough to spread the spices around.

Add the noodles

Next, add the dry egg noodles directly into the slow cooker. Press them down gently with a spoon or spatula so that they’re covered as much as possible by the liquid.

Cook until tender

Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high heat for approximately 1-2 hours. Towards the end of the cooking time, you may want to check on the pasta occasionally to see if it has absorbed all of the liquid and reached the desired texture.

Melt the cheeses

When the pasta has finished cooking, turn the slow cooker off or put it on warm mode. Drop in the cubes of cream cheese and dollop in some sour cream directly into the hot pasta.

Stir and serve

Stir the mixture gently until the cream cheese is fully melted and the sour cream becomes a creamy sauce. Sprinkle some chopped parsley for garnish, then serve the pasta immediately.

My Top Tips for Success

Monitor the noodles for the last 30 minutes so they don’t get overcooked and mushy. Slow cookers vary, so check early is my best advice.

Make sure you only add the sour cream and cream cheese at the end. Otherwise, the sauce will curdle in the slow cooker.

If the sauce looks a bit thick after stirring in the sour cream and cream cheese, just add a bit of milk or extra broth to loosen it up.

Storage and Reheating

• To Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.
• To Freeze: This recipe does not freeze well. The sauce will separate and become grainy once thawed.
• To Reheat: Reheat leftovers on the stovetop or in the microwave. Stir in a little milk to bring the sauce back to life.

What to Serve it With

• Crispy baked chicken thighs or a whole roast chicken.
• A fresh garden salad with a vinaigrette.
• Garlic bread.
• Steamed or roasted broccoli.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add ground beef to this?

Yes! Brown the beef on the stove and drain off excess grease. Stir in with the noodles before cooking. You’ll have a stroganoff-like dish.

Can I cook this on the low setting?

It’s best to cook noodles on high in a slow cooker because they tend to become mushy otherwise.