This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.
This crockpot Olive Garden chicken is to die for! The juicy and tender chicken cooked with some pasta is insanely delicious! Plus, it’s super easy which is a total win-win!
I love an easy and delicious crockpot meal! If you want to try more meals like this, you should start with Soup, this Beef and Broccoli, and this amazing Lasagna!
Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken (with Pasta!)
I love a recipe I can whip up at the last minute and still taste delicious!! This Olive Garden crockpot chicken and pasta is the perfect meal! It only takes 5 minutes to put together! Then, it cooks all day, and you don’t have to do a thing! Cook up some Broccoli, Asparagus, or this delicious salad, and you have a meal to remember!
This recipe only uses 5 ingredients! And one is a bottle of Olive Garden salad dressing. The dressing is SO GOOD, and when you mix it with the chicken and cheeses, it takes it to a whole new level! I also love that you just throw in some cooked pasta again, and the meal is done! My kids go crazy over this and are so impatient that they want to just eat it straight out of the crockpot! Another delicious cheesy recipe you won’t want to miss is my creamy four cheese pasta!
Ingredients for Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken
This recipe only uses 5 ingredients…. yes, 5! If you don’t have time to wait for a slow cooker, make my Baked Olive Garden Chicken and Pasta. See the recipe card below for a list of exact ingredient measurements.
- Chicken breasts: Use fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe.
- Olive Garden Italian dressing: This dressing is SO GOOD! Using the entire bottle will let you get all of that amazing flavor!
- Parmesan: I just used Parmesan cheese from the can! It’s super easy, and you probably already have it in your fridge.
- Cream cheese: This makes the sauce texture taste so creamy. And you can’t beat the tangy flavor of cream cheese!
- Pasta: Cook the pasta right before the chicken is done, then just throw it in and mix it up!
Let’s Cook Some Chicken!
This is a true set-it-and-forget-it meal. Just a few minutes of prep, then let the slow cooker work its magic! Love easy crockpot pasta recipes? Be sure to check out my Crockpot Million Dollar Pasta, and crockpot poppy seed chicken, too!
- Add chicken and dressing: Place the chicken breasts in a slow cooker laying flat. Pour the whole bottle or homemade olive garden dressing over top the chicken.
- Add cheeses and cook: Sprinkle parmesan over the top of the chicken and dressing. Place the block of cream cheese on top. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours.
- Cook pasta: Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Shred the chicken, add pasta, and serve: Using 2 forks or shredders, shred the chicken evenly. Use 1/4 cup of Parmesan and sprinkle it over the top of the chicken. Add in the pasta and stir until well combined. Serve while hot.
Crockpot Cooking Tips
Using a crockpot is already easy. These quick tips make it even better.
- Keep the lid on: Lifting the lid lets heat escape and slows cooking. Trust the process and peek through the glass.
- Preheat first: Turn it on about 20 minutes before adding food. Do it while you prep.
- Spray it: A quick coat of cooking spray prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.
Olive Garden Chicken Freezer Meal Instructions
Instructions:
- Add & Mix: Add the bottle of dressing and parmesan cheese to a gallon-sized, freezer-safe, sealable storage bag and mix well.
- Add, Coat, & Freeze: Add the chicken to the bag with the sauce and mix to coat the chicken in the sauce. Press out as much air as possible, seal the bag, and freeze it flat for better storage.
Reheat:
- Thaw Slightly: Pull the bag out of the freezer one hour before cooking to let it thaw slightly on the counter before cooking.
- Cook: Place the contents of the bag and the softened cream cheese into the crockpot. Cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours until the chicken is cooked through and shreds easily.
- Shred: Remove the chicken from the crockpot and shred it. Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and mix to coat it in the sauce.
- Cook Pasta & Serve: Cook the penne noodles according to package instructions and drain well. Stir the noodles into the chicken mixture and serve!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken breasts
- 1 (16 ounce bottle ) Olive Garden Italian dressing or homemade Olive Garden Italian Dressing
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 16 ounces cooked pasta
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in a slow cooker laying flat. Pour the whole bottle or homemade olive garden dressing over top the chicken.
- Sprinkle parmesan over top the chicken and dressing. Place the block of cream cheese on top. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook for 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Using 2 forks or shredders, shred the chicken evenly. Use 1/4 cup parmesan and sprinkle over top the chicken. Add in the pasta and stir until well combined. Serve while hot.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Store Leftovers
If you have some leftovers with this dish then consider yourself lucky! This crockpot Olive Garden chicken and pasta is so delicious the next day! Once the food has cooled them store it in an airtight container in your fridge. It will last for 3-4 days! When you are ready to eat, you can heat it up in your microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through!
More Delicious Crockpot Recipes
I love crockpot meals, they’re easy and always turn out juicy and delicious. My Crockpot Chicken Alfredo is a fave, but honestly, you’ll want to try them all!
I’ve never commented before, but I use A LOT of your recipes on regular rotation for our family of 5. Almost of of them have been winners…. But this one…. This one is THE BEST. We loved this meal so much, I’m making it again for the second week in a row.
My son has a dairy allergy so I used vegan cream cheese and omitted the parmesan. I made the olive garden dressing from scratch (your recipe) and it was delicious. I also just used shredded rotisserie chicken and lowered the crock pot setting to warm for a couple of hours.
Anyway, this one was a real winner. Thanks for all you do!
That is awesome! Thank you for commenting and letting me know!
I made this in my Instapot and it turned out fantastic! I followed directions as noted but set chicken mixture to 15 in instapot instead of crockpot. Yummy and so easy!
Made tonight. Here’s what I changed. I didn’t have 6 hours. I had crockpot on high for 2 hrs and low for 2 hrs. I have found that if I do 4 hours on high with chicken breast, meal is too dry. I have a poultry thermometer and make sure meat reaches required temp. I also used Lentil Pasta spirals. Wonderful! Paired with Kale salad.
Just made it today. Looking forward to dinner.
This sounds amazing, but I think I am going to adapt it to make in my instant pot and will cook the pasta with it all.
Made this tonight, very tasty and super easy!
If I want to make 4.5lbs of chicken do I need to cook it longer ?
Yes, cook your chicken until it is no longer pink.
If I want to make 4.5lbs of chicken do I need to cook longer ?
Yes, that would be best to cook it until it is no longer pink.
You never disappoint! I have made many of your recipes and they ALWAYS come out fabulous! Our fave is your alfredo sauce! Whenever I’m looking for something for dinner, I can always count on you! This recipe is delish and my family loved it, as usual! Thank you!!
Can your add shrimp to this recipe?
That would be tasty! Sautee them then add over the top when you are ready to eat.
could you make this using rotisserie chicken (already cooked from Jewel) and just shred that chicken with dressing, cheese and cream cheese. to go faster.
Yes, that is a quicker way!
Can I Make this with frozen chicken?
I have not tried that. You will need to add more time to the slow cooker.
Defrosted mine 3/4 of the way in the microwave. Was worried about excess liquid. Just got it all in the crockpot (high/4 hrs) and can’t wait for dinner! ?
Made this today… turned out great.. thanks for the recipe
Can you use boneless chicken thighs? I am already on your email list
Yes! That will work too.
Fantastic
Made this recipe last night. It was very good. I used boneless skinless chicken thighs. Came out very tasty. Served it with a salad. Would definitely make this again. Thank you for the recipe!