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.
Is there a recipe that calls for adding uncooked pasta with all of the ingredients and just let it all cook together?
Pasta cooked in the slow cooker has a very odd texture and is mushy and chalky.
Can I freeze leftovers? Made way too much, as usual. Hahaha
Yes! You can freeze them.
My family absolutely loves this recipe!
Can I add a vegetable to this
Yes, you can add carrots, or green beans. Broccoli is good but it will fall apart quite a bit.
Is there a diff dressing/liquid than can be used other than the Italian dressing?
You may be able to use ranch, but I can’t think of anything else that would work.
Can I make it with frozen chicken?
I don’t recommend using frozen chicken in the slow cooker. Some studies say it stays in the danger zone and may cause sickness.
How do I save these recipes
You can print them, or save to Pinterest, share them on Facebook to your timeline, or send an email to yourself. That’s the only options for now.
I made this and it turned out awesome! I’m not sure how people could have such strong negative opinions towards it. I used Banza chickpea pasta, added some spinach, used light olive garden dressing, and added some greek yogurt. It turned out awesome and super easy to make.
I add a little garlic powder, paprika, and about a cup of Chicken broth to cut the sour from the Italian dressing and we love this! We also pair with a different hot sauce every one in a while for some kick!
Sooooooo goood and easy! It’s a must!
I would have given this 0 stars but I couldn’t. This had the worst sour taste from the Italian dressing. I had to throw it all out and I even tried to add some garlic powder and a bottle of Alfredo sausce. I’m sure this is a fake Olive Garden recipe because it does’t ta#te like what we’ve had there.
It’s not an olive garden recipe, it’s a recipe made with olive garden dressing.
When I made it the first time I had the same opinion BUT I tried it again with a few tweaks. When you make it don’t use the whole bottle of dressing use half dressing it calls for and the other half heavy cream. I promise you it comes out so much better. I also throw in some sundried tomatoes which gives it a great flavor as well!
Same here. My daughter made it exactly as written and it was not edible with such an overpowering sour taste. Had to throw it out.