Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
1,841 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.
I made this for my family tonight and honestly it was awful. I tried to like it and so did my family but no one ate it. I actually got rid of all the leftovers. I dont know if it was the texture of the chicken, or how strong the Italian dressing was. I even tried to add some more spices to doctor it up a bit. Sadly this recipe was a thumbs down for me. I read the other reviews and they were mostly awesome, so maybe I did something wrong…
Is there a stove top recipe to this?!
People****** You are supposed to use CREAMY ITALIAN DRESSING!!! OMG thats quite a big Mistake for so many people to make. Yikes…
Do you have to use creamy dressing?
Creamy isn’t what is shown in the picture. It shows Olive Garden Signature Italian.
I love this as did my mother in law. I definitely will be making this again. I used creamy Italian dressing. Next time I’ll add garlic and Italian seasoning for more flavor. Otherwise it was great
The italian flavor is way to strong. Very oily and bitter.
This was so easy, and so tastee. Comfort food doesn’t get much better!
I added blanched broccoli before serving, and seasoned with crushed red pepper flakes. Everyone enjoyed it.
I didn’t find that it was too tangy, I wonder if those that thought this used the Olive Garden Italian dressing, of just an oil and vinegar Italian dressing. The Olive Garden dressing is a creamy Italian dressing with a flavor of its own.
I will make this again.
Is that the same as “signature” Olive Garden dressing? I couldn’t find one that actually said creamy.
I thought it was very good but too salty. I would give it five stars if it wasn’t so salty. And I didn’t even add the Parmesan cheese at the end. Any suggestions?
Can you use frozen chicken breasts?
I know my reply is a little late but I almost always use frozen chicken breast for slow cooker recipes. I always have frozen chicken on hand otherwise it goes bad sitting in my fridge. I cook on low and start it late morning. Grtting ready to make this one myself!
I did & it cooked perfectly!
A whole bottle of salad dressing?I would think that would be to oily and bitter
I thought it was a little too strong tasting. Next time I am going to use more cream cheese and less dressing.
This is absolutely delicious!!! I make it the day before I serve it and by letting it sit overnight in the refrigerator, something magical happens. The flavors mellow and just become this glorious plate of yumminess. I am always on the hunt for great crock pot recipes and this one is a keeper!