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.
DELICIOUS & EASY!!!!!!!
My son and I ate a little. We didn’t really care for it. My husband wouldn’t even touch it. My son is quite the cook so he turned the leftovers into a cold chicken pasta salad. He added mayo, onion and celery. Much better now.
This is definitely within my top five all-time favorite things to eat now. However, we use the Olive Garden Lite Italian dressing and I use a BUNCH of freshly shredded parm. We combine this with some ordinary garlic butter breadsticks (with marinara dipping sauce), freshly peeled oranges, topped off with real lemonade to drink. Makes me feel like I’m back in Italy again, eating in a small trattoria in a back alley off a main road in southern Italy.
Is there a way to turn this into a freezer meal? I love meals that I can make two of, one goes into the crockpot the other goes into a freezer bag (raw), then I have a crockpot freezer dump meal. Would this work if frozen from raw?
First time making this, didn’t have OG dressing, used regular store brand Italian dressing. There was a little more tang to it than I expected, but my whole family loved it! Next time, I think I’ll use the OG dressing to compare flavor, but will probably cut it a bit because of the comments about the salt. Definately will make this again!
I heard you can use ranch also. But it is fantastic with OG. It is in my crockpot now!
Love this recipe!
Absolutely delicious & super easy to make!! A family favorite immediately, I’m making it for the 2nd time tonight. We have it with salad & breadsticks. A little goes a long way with this recipe! Feeds my family of 6 & we have leftovers for lunch the next day, unless my husband gets up in the middle of the night, LOL. The leftovers don’t look appetizing, but often things that don’t look good end up being delicious! LOL Don’t judge cookbook by its cover I REALLY do not understand the negative reviews… I think they are not cooking it properly is the case most likely. Oh & at the end, I also add some shredded mozzarella before serving on top & let it melt a bit. The best part is taking your breadstick to sop up the juices… That’s the true test of a great meal!!!
If I’m using a smaller slow cooker that’s 2.5 qts, should I half the ingredients?
Yes, you will need to.
I never try these internet recipes, but this was Great! The chicken comes out moist and creamy and outdoes the penne: and its SO easy to make! I can’t wait for a chance to serve this to a crowd.
I used cream cheese but:
Add just enough CREAM out of the oven to bring the sauce together, garnish with pitted sliced olives (and artichoke hearts) and… Perfect!
Also its brilliant that it turns two chicken breasts into a instant meal for up to X number of people; really, really great example of turning a little into a LOT. I was amazed at how much chicken mixes into every bite. Sheer GENIUS.
I don’t understand the negative reviews. Have made it numerous times because it’s simple and delicious. Plus it makes plenty of leftovers for my wife and I. Pair it with some breadsticks or cheesy garlic bread. 🙂