Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
1,824 CommentsUpdated Jan 18, 2026
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Use Olive Garden Italian Dressing to make this Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta! It’s a creamy pasta dish that has so much flavor.
We love easy pasta dishes for the crockpot! Try my Baked Spaghetti, Feta and Tomato Pasta, or Beef Stroganoff recipes too!
I found this recipe in my Facebook group and had to try it out! You can make this Olive Garden Chicken with or without the pasta! Serve over rice or just with green steamed vegetables.
How to make Olive Garden Chicken Pasta in the Crockpot:
- Add chicken breasts to the slow cooker.
- Pour over one 16-ounce jar of Olive Garden Italian Dressing (or any Italian dressing you have on hand.
- Shake over grated parmesan cheese and ground pepper. Add one block of cream cheese.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or low for 5-6.
- Shred the chicken with two forks right in the slow cooker.
- Cook 16 ounces of pasta according to the package directions on the stove-top. I am using penne pasta for this recipe.
- Add the drained pasta to the slow cooker along with the sauce and shredded chicken, stir.
- Sprinkle over more parmesan cheese if desired. I also garnished with a touch of oregano and black pepper.
Can I serve this chicken with something other than pasta?
- Serve over rice.
- Or with steamed vegetables.
Must I use cream cheese?
You can leave it out or add a cup of heavy cream at the end of cooking time is desired. Though the sauce will be thinner.
Does this taste like chicken alfredo?
This Olive Garden Chicken Pasta is thick and creamy like alfredo but has a zesty Italian dressing flavor
What should I serve with olive garden chicken pasta?
Chose one or more of these great dishes to go along with this dish:
- Olive Garden Salad – Recipe by The Cookie Rookie
- Olive Garden Bread Sticks – Recipe by Lil Luna (or buy them premade, I get mine at Safeway)
- Slow Cooker Copycat Gnocchi Soup
- Slow Cooker Copycat Zuppa Toscana
- Slow Cooker Copycat Minestrone – Recipe by Tammilee Tips
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Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
How to Video
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast, (1.5-2 pounds works fine)
- 16 oz. Olive Garden Italian dressing, (or any Italian dressing you like) Note- olive garden dressing is high in sodium and can be salty. Choose a lower sodium dressing if desired.
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 8 oz. cream cheese
Add these items after cooking time is up:
- 16 oz. penne pasta, cooked according to package directions and drain well
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Add the chicken breasts to the slow cooker.
- Pour over the Olive Garden Italian dressing and sprinkle over the parmesan cheese and pepper.
- Place the cream cheese on top.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 5-6 hours.
- When the cooking time is almost done, start cooking the pasta on the stove top as directed on the package.
- Shred the chicken with 2 forks. Drain the pasta and add to the chicken and sauce. Stir. Sprinkle over the remaining parmesan cheese.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Could you add spinach or frozen brocolli?
I would add broccoli the last hour, or spinach just before serving.
I have made this time and time again, and it is so good! This time I used the great value brand of the dressing and added chicken bone broth to rinse out the bottle about a 1/2 cup. We shall see and im using the Rotini noodles instead if bowtie. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Just made it today. I used half recipe. I lessened the Italian dressing to 6 oz instead of 8 and I added some of the broth of the pasta to the pasta dish and I omitted the Parmesan as a topping. I would say the flavors were good for a few ingredients and it was so easy to prepare.
Just made it today. I used half recipe. I lessened the Italian dressing to 6 oz instead of 8 and I added some of the broth of the pasta to the pasta dish and I omitted the Parmesan as a topping. I would say the flavors were good for a few ingredients and it was so easy to prepare.
When I first made this with the pasta, I wasn’t a huge fan although I heard great reviews on it (luckily I didn’t put the pasta in the crockpot and ruin all the chicken) so I pivoted and put it over white rice. Absolutely amazing and even froze it and it was still delicious from the freezer especially when sick! Definitely keeping this as a rotation for freezer meals!
I want to make more sauce; mine came out delicious but a little dry. Has anyone tried this with the cream cheese and Italian dressing? Can I do it on the stove?
I have made it on the stove before also I’ve done it in the oven too. I have done it with Italian dressing which I only used chicken and the noodles I haven’t used the cream cheese or Parmesan with Italian sauce. I’ve done that in the oven which I threw the chicken and sauce in a big enough baking dish and covered with foil and added cooked noodles when it was done.
I’ve had the same issue and added some chicken broth. it makes it more saucy and also dilutes the strong flavor from the dressing, which I prefer.
I haven’t made this yet. Was going to today. Excited about having a nice crockpot meal going while I was at work all day. Then I saw that High is 5-6 hours. We’re gone for 8 hours. I worry it would dry out, or worse, start a fire.
Now I have to re-think dinner.
8 hours should be fine.
Put it on low and it will be perfect. I have done it several times!
I made this recipe but used Italian dressing from Aldi and Aldi cream cheese. Also use Asiago Romano cheese. It turned out great and some dried sun dried tomatoes for extra flavor.