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This easy crockpot chicken pasta recipe is inspired by the Olive Garden. It’s made with cream cheese, Italian dressing and Parmesan cheese and ready in about 3.5 hours. The whole family will love this easy meal — it’s perfect for busy weeknights!
Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
If you’re looking for easy slow cooker recipes, this Olive Garden crockpot chicken recipe is for you. Not only is this creamy pasta dish incredibly easy, but it’s also incredibly delicious.
The entire family loved this easy meal. Some went back for seconds. One went back for thirds. It is actually that good! Tender chicken and pasta in a creamy cheesy sauce — what could be better than this?! Check out more easy crock pot recipes to make for dinner tonight!
Table of Contents
- Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
- Can I Really Make Olive Garden Chicken Pasta in a Crockpot?
- Ingredients
- How to Make Olive Garden Chicken Pasta in Crockpot
- What to Serve with Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken Pasta
- How to Store and Reheat leftovers
- Tips for Success
- Crock Pot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta Recipe
Can I Really Make Olive Garden Chicken Pasta in a Crockpot?
Yes, you can! You are actually only cooking the chicken in the slow cooker. You cook the pasta separately, then stir it into the cooked chicken and sauce.
The beauty of this easy recipe is that it can be prepared and kept on warm to be ready when you are!
Ingredients
Here are the basic ingredients. Full amounts are listed in the printable recipe card below.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts — You can sub chicken tenders or chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat.
- Olive Garden salad dressing — You’ll need a small bottle of this creamy dressing. Regular Italian dressing won’t work.
- Pasta — Penne pasta is my favorite pasta for this easy recipe, but you can sub ziti, rotini or cellentani noodles, instead.
- Cream cheese — 1 block of cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- Parmesan cheese — I love to shred my own Parm, but you can buy pre-shredded cheese.
- Garlic powder — optional, but adds extra garlicky flavor
- Half and half — optional, but you can add a little cream, or milk or heavy cream or chicken broth if you want a little more sauce.
How to Make Olive Garden Chicken Pasta in Crockpot
First, spray the bottom of the slow cooker with non stick cooking spray. Then, place chicken on the bottom of the crock pot. Sprinkle the garlic powder over the chicken pieces.
Then, pour the whole bottle of Italian dressing on top of the chicken, and cover with the lid. Cook chicken for 2-3 hours on high or 5-6 hours on low. Chicken is done when the internal temperature is 165 degrees f according to a meat thermometer.
When chicken is done, cook penne pasta according to package directions. You can do this on the stove, or make pasta in the Instant Pot. Total cook time may vary with different slow cookers.
Shred chicken with 2 forks. Then, add the cooked chicken and cooked pasta back to the slow cooker.
Cut the cream cheese into large cubes, and add to the chicken mixture. Then, sprinkle 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan on top of the pasta, and mix well.
If you think the pasta mixture is a little dry, stir in 1/2 cup to 1 cup half and half. Cover and cook on low for an additional 30 minutes or until cream cheese is melted and creamy. You can sprinkle on more Parmesan cheese before serving.
What to Serve with Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken Pasta
We love to serve this creamy chicken pasta with a simple salad topped with Olive Garden dressing. All you need are bread sticks or homemade garlic bread to round out this delicious dinner. If you don’t want salad, try microwave broccoli or peas.
How to Store and Reheat leftovers
Refrigerate leftover chicken and pasta in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can reheat larger portions in the oven or individual portions in the microwave.
This delicious pasta dish freezes well for up to 3 months.
Tips for Success
Other versions of this crock pot Olive garden chicken pasta have you cook the cream cheese along with the chicken. I prefer adding the cheese later, as it tends to get grainy when cooked. But you can do what works for you.
There are 2 sizes of Olive Garden dressing. If you buy the larger bottle, only use 2 cups dressing. Otherwise, the tangy dressing may overpower the pasta.
There is not a ton of the creamy sauce. That’s why I recommend adding additional liquid if you like more sauce. You can add more dressing, extra cream or reserve some of the cooking water from the pasta to add later.
Be sure to use a large slow cooker (6-7 quart slow cooker works well) for this crockpot pasta as it makes a lot!
Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
Video
Equipment
- 1 crock pot
Ingredients Â
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
- 16 oz Olive Garden salad dressing
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 16 oz penne pasta
- 8 oz cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese divided
- ½ cup half and half or heavy cream
InstructionsÂ
- Spray the bottom of the slow cooker with non stick spray
- Place chicken into the crockpot and sprinkle garlic powder over chicken
- Pour the entire bottle of dressing over the chicken, and cover
- Cook for 2-3 hours on high or 5-6 hours on low or until chicken is 165℉ internally
- Cook pasta according to directions on package, and drain, reserving a cup of pasta water if desired to add to the pasta
- Shred chicken with 2 forks
- Mix shredded chicken, cooked pasta, cubed cream cheese and 1/4 cup Parm together in the slow cooker. Add half and half
- Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes on low or until cream cheese is melted and pasta is heated through. Top with more Parmesan before serving
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I hope you enjoy this easy slow cooker recipe as much as we do! For more crock pot recipes and easy dinners the family will love, sign up for the weekly newsletter and follow me on social media.
Made this as a new recipe to try out for family dinner tonight and everyone loved it! My in-laws love Olive Garden and they said this was better! Will definitely make again!
Pickey family and we all loved it!
Picky family of 5 and everyone loved to! Thank you!
WAY too rich. Will try adding some veggies to tone it down.
To be fair, this is supposed to be rich. But, adding veggies on the side or to the pasta is a great idea.
I appreciate the recipes being spelled out. Some sites don’t walk ya through it. So far, everything tastes fantastic!
Thank you so much for your kind words. SO glad you are enjoying the recipes!
Has anyone tried using less salad dressing?
You can use less dressing, but you will need to add more cream so you have enough sauce.
I absolutely love how this tastes, so much better than Olive Garden! Definitely making again
My daughter added pasta water to it.
Made this for guests last night! What a hit! Better than going to the restaurant! Skip the salad and breadsticks have another helping! Going to make this often!
Made this for dinner tonight and boy was it good! There’s hardly any leftovers because everyone went back for seconds…and some for thirds!
Wow! This is 10 times better than Olive Garden! The only thing that would make it better is unlimited soup salad and breadsticks magically appearing after making this dish 😂
So glad you like it! Thanks for the wonderful review!