Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta


1,778 Comments


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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!

pasta in slow cooker with cheese on top. Breadsticks on the side.

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.

ingredients for olive garden chicken; italian dressing, chicken, pepper, cream cheese, and pasta.

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.
Chicken, chicken with italian dressing, chicken with italian dressing, parmesan and 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.
Chicken after cooking in slow cooker
  • 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.
Chicken, pasta, in a creamy sauce served with bread sticks and salad

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

chicken penne pasta in white bowl

What should I serve with olive garden chicken pasta?

Chose one or more of these great dishes to go along with this dish:

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Chicken, pasta, in a creamy sauce in the slow cooker

Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

3.59 from 822 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 8
Pasta cooked with Olive Garden Italian dressing, parmesan and cream cheese. Penne pasta is added at the end of the cooking time.
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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

Calories: 568kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 852mg | Potassium: 528mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 481IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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Recipe Rating




1,778 Comments

  1. Cindy says:

    I made this exactly as recipe stated and I thought it was awful. Would not make it again. Very strong tasting like the dressing. I couldn’t tast any of the other ingredients.

  2. sara says:

    can you use greek yogurt to sub for the cream cheese?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      You can, but when I stir greek yogurt into hot recipes it turns liquidy and doesn’t make a dish quite as creamy as cream cheese.

  3. Courtney says:

    What is 1 serving of this? I cant find it on the nutrition list

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      1/8th of the recipe. We do not measure.

  4. Someone’s daughter says:

    1 star
    I did not like. Don’t eat this if you don’t like dressing. My mom told me this was chicken Alfredo. It is not chicken Alfredo. This dish is a disappointment. I love my mother but if she makes this again I will call cps on myself.

  5. Stephanie says:

    I made it this evening but I have so much leftover. Can I freeze and reheat on another day?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I don’t see why not. I’ve had people say this is actually good cold, like pasta salad the next day.

  6. Tara Cardoza says:

    So, I made this for dinner tonight. I did read through all of the comments before making the recipe. And sidenote my grocery store didn’t have the Olive Garden Italian dressing so I bought wishbone. I only added half of the container of Italian dressing. I have to say it turned out pretty bland. I ended up having to add some garlic powder onion powder and garlic salt as well as garlic and pepper to spice it up a bit

    1. Elle says:

      Im making it now and I was seriously considering doing just that. Thanks for the suggestion

  7. Anonymous says:

    3 stars
    This was too rich for my husband and I. It upset our stomachs. I will need to modify this if I ever prepare it again.

  8. Anonymous says:

    3 stars
    I loved it but I made changes based on comments that I think is what made it good. I used half the dressing and two cups of chicken broth. Added some frozen broccoli as well as some extra shredded mozzarella cheese i had. Added a little garlic powder onion powder red pepper…tasted more like an Alfredo sauce than straight Italian dressing. I also used the Olive Garden Light Italian dressing and it was still good.

  9. Jacquie says:

    Hi Sarah,
    I was wondering if Frozen chicken is used how much time is added for cooking?
    Thank you!

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Hi Jacquie, I do not recommend using frozen chicken in the slow cooker. I do not test them with frozen chicken and there are many studies that suggest that cooking frozen meats isn’t safe.

    2. Elle says:

      Well I’m currently using 2 chicken breasts that are not fully thawed out. So I will let you know how it turns out. Also Im adding extra seasonings and not using a full bottle of Olive Garden dressing

  10. Cindy says:

    Well I have it in the crockpot but haven’t set time yet, I’m worried I won’t car for it after reading comments but I don’t like to strong is there any way of making it not taste so strong after putt in all the dressing??? Help

    1. Tina says:

      I used half the dressing, cream cheese and 14 oz of chicken broth and it turned out perfect. Don’t forgot to add the extra cheese and black pepper.