Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
This Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta is an easy, creamy pasta dish that has so much flavor using only 5 ingredients! It's one of our go-to recipes for a busy weeknight that the whole family will love (and tastes restaurant-quality too).
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 16 ounces Olive Garden Italian Dressing
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese divided
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 8 ounces cream cheese cubed
- 16 ounces penne pasta
- Parsley for garnish if desired
Instructions
- Spray a 6-quart crock pot with non-stick spray and add the chicken breasts.
- Pour Italian dressing over the top of chicken.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and black pepper over chicken.
- Place cubed cream cheese on top and cook on high for four hours or low 5-6 hours.
- When cooking time is up on the crock pot, remove chicken breasts and shred with two forks before adding back to the crock pot.
- Prepare pasta according to package directions.
- Add cooked pasta to the crock pot and stir.
- Garnish with ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
Notes
Storage:
If you have any Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta leftover, store in a airtight container in the refrigerator, where it should stay fresh for about 3 days. You can also store in a zip top bag in the fridge!
Reheat the pasta in the microwave or on the stovetop for a couple of minutes until just warmed through. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water when reading until it's the right consistency.
You can definitely cook the pasta in advance to save time, but this recipe is so tasty when you serve warm right out of the slow cooker. However, the leftovers are just as tasty, so if you need to prep this a day before and then reheat, go for it!
Tips:
- Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are a similar size. This will help them to cook evenly and at the same rate in the slow cooker.
- Make sure the chicken breasts are fully covered by the liquid in the slow cooker. This will help them to stay moist when cooking for the most delicious bite after they are shredded.
- Boil the pasta separately from the Olive Garden Chicken Pasta sauce. This will guarantee that it is al dente and not mushy when it's stirred into the sauce.
- Finding the Olive Garden Italian dressing is key to making this pasta correctly. It's tangy and a little creamy with lots of cheesy flavor. It's easy to order online to keep in your pantry.
- Serve this crockpot chicken pasta with a Caesar Salad on the side or Garlic Bread for a complete restaurant-quality meal!