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.
Ive made this before and its great, but how long would you cook it for half?
I would do 4 hours on low.
I found it to be dry and not very flavorful. My guests said they really enjoyed it but I think they were just being nice
I do not mean to be offensive in this question, but did you season the chicken before hand?
You can if you want, but you wouldn’t be able to taste it over the dressing, and do not add any extra salt.
Really easy to cook and taste great! Thank you
I’m doing a double batch how long should I cook it for?
I would do 7 hours on low.
Just made it for my 15 year old son and his friend who’s sleeping over…they devoured it.
This turned out well. I didn’t salt my noodles because of the comments about it being salty. I think next time I will use a bit less dressing and a tad bit more cream cheese.
It’s great if bake it in the dressing to I do thighs and use the sauce to dip in and if u do a whole drunk chicken or with a monster energy drink that makes the meat sweet and u get the tangy for olive garden dressing on the skin the whole chicken well fall apart
BEST homemade pasta dish I’ve ever made! Truly! This is a case of don’t listen to the negative reviews, it’s absolutely delicious! The chicken is tender, the sauce is amazing and bursting with flavor! Hubby and I thought it tasted like you were actually eating in an Italian restaurant! When chicken was done, I took it out and shredded it on a plate. Take a whisk and blend the sauce until it is evenly blended, add the chicken back in, serve on your favorite past, sprinkle with your parmesan cheese. Serve with garlic bread and meal made! Highly recommend this wonderful recipe!
Is it ok to add a bit of heavy cream? I thought and made this before and used heavy cream and then after I poured it and I realized it’s not in the recipe. ♀️ Oops
Yes, that’s fine!
Not our favorite. Way too salty even with reducing the salad dressing. Also, if you’re reading this and vinegar is not your cup of tea, scroll past.