Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
1,838 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.
Brother-in-law made it and it was excellent for a birthday party
I made this tonight and we loved it– I did take your advice and use a different salad dressing- I used Wish bone House Italian- much less salt than OG. I did not add any salt to my pasta water and it was good. I also added a small jar of mushroom slices– was delish. I think I would also do what one person said and do half dressing and half chicken stock.
Made this tonight doubled recipe so now I will freeze the remainder.
Very good!
Thx for the recipe! I love, love, love Olive Garden Dressing. Cannot wait to make this
I’ve made this once and it was so yummy! Is there a way to make this meal on the stop top to speed up the cooking time?
I cook my chicken and pasta ahead of time and let the cream cheese soften. Mix all ingredients together and add in the pasta and chicken to dish. I cook mine in the oven for 20 mins to heat through. Add some Parmesan on top at the end. My family loves it!
Will this work with a 3.5 quart crockpot?
No, but you could serve it over pasta instead of adding the pasta to the slow cooker.
Can this be frozen?
I don’t see why not!
How long should I do it if cooking chicken tenders instead of breast
Probably just a half-hour less.
Can this be made in the oven?
This is very rich and 16 oz. Of penne noodles is too much. It dried the whole thing out.
Agree! use less pasta or add something that would help moisten it. The next day is really dry.
How many cups per serving?
I’m unsure. I do not measure. It’s 1/8 of the recipe.
Can the chicken breast be frozen? If so cook time?
Hi, I can not give advice on frozen meats in the slow cooker for some studies suggest it is not safe.