1-First Step: Prep Your Ingredients Begin by mincing 4 cloves of garlic and chopping 1 green bell pepper and ½ medium white onion. This mise en place helps everything come together quickly and ensures even cooking. For dietary adaptations, if you’re using pre-cooked chicken, hold off on adding it until later to keep it from drying out.

2-Second Step: Combine Ingredients in the Slow Cooker Grab a 5-quart or larger slow cooker and add the minced garlic, chopped bell pepper, chopped onion, 1 can of crushed tomatoes, ½ pound of raw chicken breasts, 5 cups of low sodium chicken broth, ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, 2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes. Stir gently to mix, then cover the slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 7.5 hours or on HIGH for 3.5 hours, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.

3-Third Step: Shred the Chicken Once the cooking time is up, carefully remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker using tongs. Place them on a cutting board and shred the meat with two forks. This step is where the magic happens, turning the chicken into tender pieces that soak up the soup’s flavors. If you’re making this for a gluten-free diet, remember to cook any alternatives like rice separately at this point.

4-Fourth Step: Add the Pasta and Finish Cooking Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir in 4 ounces of uncooked dry gemelli or penne pasta. Cover again and cook on HIGH for 20-30 minutes, or until the pasta reaches al dente texture. This timing keeps the pasta from getting too soft, and it’s a good spot to add in optional elements like substitutes for dietary needs.

5-Fifth Step: Adjust and Serve Optionally, stir in 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter for extra creaminess. If the soup seems too thick, add a bit more chicken broth or water to thin it out, then warm through. Serve hot, garnishing each bowl with extra shredded Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil or parsley. This final touch makes it visually appealing and ties in the flavors nicely, perfect for family meals or entertaining guests.