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.
Not good. The tangy dressing was overpowering. Gave everything a weird taste!
We love this recipe. I use Kens Simply Vinaigrette Garlic and basil dressing. SO GOOD!
So easy and very delicious. Became less salty after I shredded the chicken and added the pasta. Will make again very soon everyone lived it
Can you use frozen chicken breast? How much longer would you add to cooking time?
Hi, I don’t give advice on frozen meats, some studies suggest it isn’t safe.
The cooking time was for four hours. Was that on high or low?
On high. The full recipe is in the recipe card.
We love this. I use the regular Olive Garden Italian dressing. No one in my family found it to be too salty and I’ve never had any sort of rancid taste or smell as reported in other reviews. I’ve made it 3 times and it’s devoured every time. It’s become an easy go-to in my house that everyone eats without complaints.
I have made this 3 times and my family enjoys it. Making it today for supper.
Can this be frozen in individual serving containers for my college student?
I’m unsure how the cream cheese would freeze in this.
Not sure, but I always froze Fettuccini Alfredo for my son at school and there were no complaints.
Absolutely terrible beyond repair. There is no fixing this once it’s made. Make something else before you regret it!
Bye bye chicken breasts!
Why was it bad? I was hoping to make for company this weekend for first time
The Italian dressing gave this dish a weird almost rancid smell and taste.
I just made it and had no rancid taste or smell. My husband and toddler both loved it. As did I.
I came here to say something similar. It just seemed too acidic to me. I added mozzarella to it and that seemed to help a little. Unlike my son and myself, my husband and daughter enjoyed it. Like most things, it’s all about preference.
I used lite olive garden dressing and it was a lot less salty.