3 ingredients, 5-minute prep! This copycat crockpot Olive Garden Chicken is juicy, tender, and packed with bold and tangy flavors! A copycat Olive Garden chicken pasta dish full of true Italian flavors!
There is good reason this slow cooker Olive Garden Chicken pasta will become your favorite recipe. Maybe you have seen this viral video on TikTok. Well, now is the time to try it for yourself.
Great recipe! Definitely 5+ Stars!
K
Followed the directions exactly as listed. Used Olive Garden Italian dressing, Penne pasta, cream cheese, etc. Served with a green salad and garlic bread. They LOVED IT!!! Was asked to save this recipe, and make again – SOON! Thank you for sharing!
I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!
If you love slow cooker or Instant Pot meals, you will love these other reader favorites; like my Instant Pot Bow Tie Pasta, this meal prep favorite Healthier Crack Chicken or my barbecue pulled pork recipe and this fall apart tender Barbacoa Beef recipe.
National Slow Cooker Month
Did you know that January is National Slow Cooker Month?
These three slow cooker recipes are on repeat in our house! Be sure to try them all, starting with this family favorite! Plus Crock Pot London Broil and Crockpot Ranch Chicken, but if you love Olive Garden, try this Olive Garden Steak Alfredo!
This crockpot dinner is so easy that you may never buy it in a restaurant again! Plus, making a low-fat, low-sodium, or low-carb version of this Olive Garden chicken dish is a simple task the entire family will love.
And guess what? I’ll guide you through making this with frozen chicken! You read that right: a frozen chicken crockpot recipe.
Simple Ingredients Crock Pot Italian Chicken
- Italian Dressing | For a true copy of the Olive Garden chicken, use Olive Garden dressing. I have used Brianna’s Italian Salad Dressing, Trader Joe’s Romano Caesar, and Simply Organic Italian, but my favorite is my homemade zesty Italian dressing recipe. Olive Garden dressing, while delish, is high in sodium and has high fructose corn syrup, ew 🙁
- Boneless Chicken Breasts | You want approximately 2 pounds, typically 3-4 boneless, skinless breasts.
- Black Pepper | Ground fresh black pepper on your dish as desired.
- Cream Cheese | You can use Neufchatel cheese instead of full-fat cream cheese in this Olive Garden copycat recipe.
- Pasta | The original Olive Garden chicken dish is served with pasta. For this recipe, I used a short pasta, like a penne pasta; any pasta will work — it grabs all that delicious sauce so there’s plenty in every bite.
- Parmesan Cheese | A microplane zester creates tiny, delicate shreds which melt seamlessly into your pasta.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
For truly 3 ingredient Olive Garden Chicken, then omit the parmesan cheese and the pasta – but seriously, it takes an extra second, so just do it! 🙂
How to Make Olive Garden Chicken in Crock Pot
Place the meat in the bottom of your slow cooker, then cover it with the entire bottle of Italian dressing and freshly grated parmesan. If desired, add some ground black pepper as well.
Add a block of cream cheese, cover, and cook on Low for 3-4 hours; if cooking on high, check the chicken after 2 ½-3 hours. See tips below for making this with frozen chicken breasts.
During the last hour of this slow cooker recipe, bring a pot of water to boil on the stove and cook your choice of pasta.
Shred the tender chicken once complete, stirring the creamy sauce, then return it to the crockpot and stir in the pasta. Sprinkle the whole thing with parmesan cheese and serve! If desired, garnish with some fresh chopped thyme. YUM!
Fresh Tips
- Cooking chicken in a slow cooker longer than 4 hours typically results in dry, chewy chicken – yuck! Nobody wants dry chicken. While the timing isn’t terribly convenient, I don’t mind starting this a little later in the day if I am around all day. I have found the sweet spot is around 4 hours!
Olive Garden Chicken Pasta Instant Pot Instructions
Chicken recipes shine when made in the Instant Pot; here are some quick tips for Olive Garden Chicken Pasta Instant Pot style, a creamy pasta dish the whole family will love.
- Pour in half the bottle of dressing, then add the chicken breasts, finishing with the rest of the bottle of Italian dressing. Lay the block of cream cheese on top of the chicken breasts.
- Close the lid, seal and pressure cook for 10 minutes with 6-8 minutes of natural pressure release. Release any leftover steam, remove the chicken to a cutting board, shred easily with two forks, and then stir back into the mixture. Now is a great time to cook your pasta.
- Remove chicken, shred or cut and return to Instant Pot, add cooked pasta and all of the parmesan cheese; stir and serve immediately.
Variations & Substitutions
- Make it healthier | It’s very easy to swap out the ingredients for healthier options. You can use a low-sodium Italian dressing, swap out cream cheese for plain Greek yogurt or Neufchatel cheese, and/or serve with whole-grain pasta or high-protein pasta.
- You can use another sharp cheese instead of parmesan if you wish. Romano and asiago are your best substitutes, as they are also dry and have a similar salty flavor.
- Penne pasta can be swapped out with another type of short noodle such as rigatoni, cavatappi, or fusilli, but honestly spaghetti works great too. The bottom line for this viral recipe is use your favorite pasta or what you have on hand!
Fresh Tips
- This restaurant quality meal easily cuts in half for smaller family meals. But this is great for meal prepping. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and frozen up to 3 months in an airtight container.
- You can quickly thaw your poultry in the microwave by gradually defrosting one minute at a time, or in a bath of warm water.
- Or you can cook them frozen! See my tips below for the best practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to keep your poultry moist is by cooking on low instead of high, and keeping your time to 4 hours if possible.
You can! It’s always important, however, to check the internal temperature of the meat when it’s done cooking. You want the temperature to reach 165° F to ensure that it is safe to eat. But if it shreds easily, it is done.
It shreds easiest while it’s warm, so be sure to shred before refrigerating. You can use two forks to shred, use your hands, or even use a stand mixer after tearing into larger chunks and placing them in a deep mixing bowl. I personally think it’s easiest to shred using two forks.
Frozen chicken crockpot recipe
Here’s the 411 (I just dated myself :-). Start with frozen chicken boneless skinless chicken breasts to avoid dryness. This Olive Garden chicken recipe is perfect for busy days when you don’t want to babysit your crockpot.
Just add the ingredients, set it on low for 6-8 hours (it’ll automatically switch to warm), and shred the chicken and cook your pasta when you come back. Voila! Dinner is served!
A few of our favorite chicken recipes are this best-ever sous vide chicken breast, or this copycat chipotle chicken and this Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Rice.
Recommended Tools
- 4 qt or larger crockpot | Love this 7-quart crockpot.
- Flexible Cutting Boards | These flexible cutting boards are super handy when prepping ingredients to slide into a pot. I like them because they are BPA Free.
What’s the difference between a slow cooker and a crockpot?
Nothing really, Crockpot is simply the brand name of a slow cooker, which is why we use it interchangeably.
What to serve with Olive Garden Crock Pot Chicken Pasta
My Olive Garden crock pot chicken pasta recipe goes great with many sides, but it is especially delicious when served with cheesy garlic bread and a side salad, like my Romaine Wedge Salad or this Italian Chopped Salad.
Best Steakhouse Wedge Salad Recipe (with Romaine)
Healthier Romaine wedge salad is topped with creamy blue cheese dressing, bacon bits, blue cheese crumbles, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and candied pecans; the best Steakhouse wedge salad.
Best Easy Italian Chopped Salad Recipe
Loaded Italian chopped salad with fresh veggies, salami, provolone, kalamata olives, and homemade Italian vinaigrette. A light and delicious meal that will make you love salads!
Talk about comfort food! And how about starting off with a bright and delicious drink? This Tangerine and Thyme Gin & Tonic pairs beautifully!
If you want to feel a little less guilty about your dinner, however, you can also serve this dish with a fresh, crisp salad. My collection of summer salad recipes has a ton of great options to choose from!
More Copycat Recipes You Will Love
- One Pan Tuscan Chicken in Parmesan Cream Sauce (Olive Garden Copycat)
- Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl Recipe
- Olive Garden Steak Alfredo (Copycat Recipe)
- Copycat Panera Autumn Squash Soup
Best desserts to serve with Olive Garden Chicken
Be sure to finish your meal off with a delicious make-ahead dessert, like this Traditional Tiramisu or a few of my favorites below:
Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake Recipe
You are going to love my Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake Recipe. This rich, moist cake is an easy cake recipe filled with rich lemon flavor and creamy ricotta that is an authentic Italian treat – made right in your kitchen. This easy lemon ricotta cake may look plain, but the taste is out of this world! An Italian cheesecake if you will!
Best Italian Cream Puff Cake Recipe
This Italian Cream Puff Cake recipe is a giant light and airy cream puff and creamy, delicious filling, this cake is the perfect end to any meal!
Classic Italian Tiramisu Recipe
Traditional Tiramisu is an Italian dessert recipe with layers of mascarpone custard, whipped cream, layered between rum and espresso soaked ladyfingers.
More Fabulous Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta from Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes from Jen Around the World
- Cream Cheese and Potato Chowder from Palatable Pastime
- Slow Cooker Rajma from Magical Ingredients
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos from Kathryn’s Kitchen Blog
- Crockpot Cheddar Broccoli Soup from Life Love and Good Food
- Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes from Blogghetti
- Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich with Au Jus from The Spiffy Cookie
- Terriyaki Ribs from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Olive Garden Crock Pot Chicken from The Fresh Cooky
- Slow Cooker Italian Sunday Gravy from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Easy Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole from Devour Dinner
- Dutch Oven or Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs from Art of Natural Living
- Slow Cooker Spaghetti from Our Good Life
- Try my new Slow Cooker Cube Steak Recipe with Gravy
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3-Ingredient Olive Garden Chicken with Pasta (Crockpot)
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Print Pin Save RateIngredients
Place the following in a crock pot
- 2 pounds chicken breasts boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3-4) see below for frozen
- 16 ounce Italian dressing make homemade, Olive Garden or organic, see notes below
- 8 oz cream cheese Neufchâtel cheese may be subbed
- 4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese optional
Made on the stovetop just prior to serving (optional)
- 16 oz penne pasta cooked al dente, according to package (any short pasta works, spaghetti too)
- 4 tablespoons parmesan cheese grated or shredded
- Fresh Thyme chopped (Optional garnish)
Instructions
- Add the chicken breasts to the crock pot, then pour the Italian dressing over and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and if desired some ground black pepper.
- Place a block of cream cheese on top of chicken, cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours, that's your sweet spot to avoid dry chicken. See notes if you need to cook longer.
- When you have about 40 minutes left on the slow cooker, heat the water for the pasta on the stovetop and cook the pasta on the according to package directions.
- Once Olive Garden crock pot chicken is done (it should shred easily), shred chicken using two forks or using a stand mixer, then return to the crock pot.
- Drain pasta, stir into chicken mixture to combine, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve. We love this with Garlic Cheese bread and a crisp green salad.
Make with Frozen Chicken Breasts
- Place frozen breasts in the bottom of the crock pot, pour other ingredients over the top – cook for 5-6 hours on low, making sure that the internal temp reaches 165 degrees. The chicken will shred easily once done.
- I have actually found this works better with crock pot chicken recipes, because the chicken doesn’t dry out, so this is my preferred and lazy way to make crock pot chicken.
Instant Pot Olive Garden Chicken
- Pour ½ bottle Italian dressing into bottom of Instant Pot, place chicken breasts in next. Pour balance of salad dressing over the top, then top with cream cheese. Do not stir!
- Cover pot and secure the lid, make sure it is in sealed position and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes, with natural release for 5-8 minutes.
- Remove chicken, shred or cut and return to Instant Pot, add cooked pasta and all of the parmesan cheese.
Notes
Variations
- This recipe is easily cut in half!
- It’s very easy to swap out the ingredients for healthier options. You can use a low-sodium Italian dressing, swap out cream cheese for plain Greek yogurt, or serve with whole-grain pasta or high-protein pasta.
- You can use another sharp cheese instead of parmesan if you wish. Romano and asiago are your best substitutes, as they are also dry and have a similar salty flavor.
- Penne pasta can be swapped out with another type of short noodle such as rigatoni or fusilli, but honestly spaghetti works great too. Bottom line, use your favorite pasta or what you have on hand!
Nutrition
I don’t like buying salad dressing. Do you have a recipe for homemade Olive Garden Italian salad dressing that works in this recipe?
Thanks for asking, Debbie; I sure do; while I haven’t tried it with this recipe, it would be delicious! Give it a try! https://www.thefreshcooky.com/zesty-italian-dressing-recipe/
My husband doesn’t care for chicken in shredded form. Do you think this would work if I just chunked it into bite size pieces?
Absolutely!! I understand your husband, I had some funny chicken aversions when I was pregnant with my boys!
Can I use ranch dressing instead?
My whole family hates Italian dressing
I’ve never tried it, let me know if you do!
Great recipe! Definitely 5+ Stars!
Followed the directions exactly as listed. Used Olive Garden Italian dressing, Penne pasta, cream cheese, etc. Served with a green salad and garlic bread. They LOVED IT!!! Was asked to save this recipe, and make again – SOON! Thank you for sharing!
Awe, thank you! You made my month!
I think the trick is using the right salad dressing so beware of using your favorite type as the recipe says. I wish I would’ve used the suggestions as this dish was inedible as I made it with Wishbone zesty Italian. But overall it is heavy and tastes overprocessed.
That’s a good point Ann, I’ll put some notes in the recipe, yes I would think that Wishbone might be pretty heavy. So sorry about that!
I just made this and the cream cheese curdles and the consistency is really soupy. Anyone else have this problem? I used frozen chicken breasts, 8oz of 1/3 less fat cream cheese and light Italian dressing. Otherwise followed the instructions exactly.
Probably using the less fat ingredients caused the curdling, and the frozen chicken might have had a lot of water in it (some
Chicken is injected with water to make it look more plump). It shouldn’t have changed the taste/flavor and wasn’t bad, just a reaction it had. Next time, take the chicken out, and give it all a good whisking to bring it together again, maybe heating it on high for a few minutes to bring it back together. Then pop your chicken back in. Just a thought.
Great recipe! Definitely saving this on my rotation!!
So glad you enjoyed!
Fabulous recipe! The instructions are very easy to follow, and the result is outstanding!
Thank you!
This is such an easy meal to prep! Tasty and easy, my favorite!
Thank you!!
This chicken pasta is delicious! I love finding another fabulous and easy recipe for my crock pot.
Right, you can never have too many crock pot recipes!
A go to at my house!! It’s super easy and everyone loves it!!
Love hearing that Casey! Thanks so much!
We had this chicken for dinner last night and it was wonderful! My kids and husbands both loved it and said I should make it often!
Love hearing that! So glad you all loved it!
This quickly became a favorite at my house! Everyone at my house loved it!
That is wonderful, thanks for your kind comment!
Love how easy this crock pot chicken was to prep and cook. A hit with the whole family!
YAY! Thanks so much!
My family is going to love this! Thank you for this amazing recipe.
You are so welcome!
This was so good, honestly, even better than at the restaurant!
Love hearing that, thanks for taking the time to write a kind comment!
This was so creamy and delicious! My family gobbled it right up!
Creamy pasta is always comforting and this recipe is a keeper!
Thank you Radha!
We can’t get enough of this chicken pasta! It’s so flavorful, creamy and easy to put together! Thanks for another delicious recipe, Kathleen! I’ll be making this dish again soon!
Yay, I love hearing this!
This looks like a pasta dish I can get with. Love quick and easy meal ideas like this one.
Yes, definitely “get with” this dish!
This looks incredible. Love the frozen tip both for moist chicken but it’s also perfect for poor planners 🙂
Thank you Inger, I do that ALL THE TIME, because I always forget to take out my meat!
I love olive garden’s italian dressing. I bet this is absolutely delicious!
Thanks, it really is a keeper and so easy too!
This is so delicious! I’ll be making this often.
Thank you Karen, it’s on repeat at our house!
I have not had this dish at OG, but I think I would love the homemade version you made much better. Delish!
I think you would too Lisa!
Dump dinners make me happy and the flavors in this dish will make my family happy. Thanks
YES! Me too, especially when they are so darn easy!
This looks incredible. I know my family would love having this!
Thank you Terri, I hope you try it and love it!