Everyone is talking about Olive Garden Crock Pot Chicken, and with good reason. It is one of those simple crock pot recipes that you can prep in 5 minutes and enjoy a few hours later. If that isn't enough, it combines the deliciousness of Olive Garden salad dressing with the creamy flavor of cream cheese.
This delicious and tender chicken is served with pasta, making it a filling and hearty meal. The best part is that it is a slow cooker recipe, meaning it can cook while you go about your day. Talk about easy! It is one of the best crock pot chicken recipes we have ever made!
For another yummy pasta dish, try this Creamy Pasta With Zucchini And Bacon.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love Olive Garden Dressing Chicken
- Crockpot Chicken Recipes
- Ingredients for Olive Garden Crock Pot Chicken
- Essentials For Chicken With Olive Garden Dressing
- How to Make Olive Garden Chicken Crock Pot
- Tips For Making Olive Garden Slow Cooker Chicken
- FAQs For Olive Garden Chicken
- Recipes To Make With Dressing
- Crockpot Chicken Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
Why You’ll Love Olive Garden Dressing Chicken
- It’s a total time-saver! With just 5 minutes of prep, the slow cooker does the rest.
- Made with only 5 simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- The zesty, creamy flavor combo is pure comfort food (and yep, even picky eaters clean their plates).
- Perfect for busy weeknights, cozy weekends, or whenever you need an easy dinner win.
- If you love our Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe, this one’s going straight to the favorites list too.
Crockpot Chicken Recipes
Between the after-school chaos, work emails, and that never-ending laundry pile, the last thing you need is dinner stress. That’s where crockpot chicken recipes come in and save the day.
They’re the kind of set-it-and-forget-it meals that let you breathe a little easier—while still getting a warm, homemade dinner on the table. Whether you're juggling a busy weekday or just craving something cozy and simple, these recipes are here to help.
- Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
- Crock Pot Balsamic Chicken Recipe
- Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken Recipe
- Crockpot Chicken And Stuffing Recipe
Ingredients for Olive Garden Crock Pot Chicken
- Chicken breast - Skinless and boneless chicken breast, either fresh or defrosted.
- Olive Garden dressing - We used the regular version, but you can use the light version, which has the same delightful taste while being a healthier choice.
- Cream cheese - Using cream cheese in this recipe gives provides creaminess, and a rich texture and flavor.
- Parmesan cheese - You can choose freshly grated or packaged Parmesan. Both add depth of flavor to the recipe.
- Pasta - I used penne pasta, but any of your favorite short pasta would work as well.
- Salt and pepper - To taste.
Essentials For Chicken With Olive Garden Dressing
To whip up this Olive Garden Italian Dressing Chicken with ease, a few key kitchen tools will come in handy. I’ve rounded up my favorite essentials below.
From a reliable slow cooker that does the heavy lifting to liners that save you from scrubbing afterward, these tools will make your cooking experience smooth and stress-free.
A quality meat thermometer ensures perfectly cooked chicken every time, and if you're bringing this dish to a potluck, a travel bag for your crockpot is a game-changer.
👉 Tap any image below to shop these helpful kitchen tools on Amazon!
Another essential for this recipe is high quality chicken which you can get via Butcher Box. You can get 100% grass-fed beef; free-range organic chicken; heritage-breed pork, wild-caught seafood, and more delivered directly to your door.
How to Make Olive Garden Chicken Crock Pot
1. Layer the chicken: Begin by placing the boneless, skinless chicken breasts at the bottom of your Crock-Pot. Then, pour an entire bottle of Olive Garden's signature salad dressing over the chicken.
2. Add cheese: Then it is time for a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
3. Add cream cheese: You want this sauce to be super creamy, so you will add an entire block of cream cheese to the slow cooker. There's no need to chop it into smaller pieces, as the cream cheese will soften as the slow cooker works its magic.
4. Cook it low and slow: Set your Crock-Pot on low and cook for 6 hours.
5. Cook pasta: When there are 15 minutes left on your timer, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta, then drain and set aside.
6. Blend: Once the crock pot is done cooking, stir the contents to blend the softened cream cheese into a sauce.
7. Shred and add pasta: Shred the chicken right in the pot (why dirty a bowl?), fold in the cooked pasta, and top it with even more Parmesan cheese. Mix these yummy ingredients until everything is coated in the creamy sauce.
8. Serve and enjoy: Finally, it's time to serve this Olive Garden chicken! The slight tang of the salad dressing blends perfectly with the creaminess of the sauce.
Tips For Making Olive Garden Slow Cooker Chicken
Tip 1: While cooking this for 4 hours on high in the slow cooker will get the job done, letting it cook for 6 hours on the low setting really is the better option. A longer cooking time on the low setting results in a tender, fall-apart texture for the chicken.
Tip 2: You can use two forks to shred chicken, but it is much easier to use these shredding claws. The chicken shreds with very little effort, and your hands don't hurt afterward.
Tip 3: If you make this dish a little before your family is ready to eat, you can set the crock-pot to the keep warm mode.
Tip 4: If you don't want to serve this chicken with pasta, you can leave it out, but you will have more sauce left over than if you added pasta.
FAQs For Olive Garden Chicken
A crisp side salad with vinaigrette and warm garlic bread are perfect pairings - especially for soaking up the extra sauce! For a classic touch, go with breadsticks. Want something lighter? Steamed broccoli or green beans make a great, healthy side.
Let the chicken and pasta cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. To freeze, use a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 3 months. When you're ready to enjoy it again, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave.
It’s best to avoid using frozen chicken in the crockpot due to food safety concerns. Always use thawed or fresh chicken. You can defrost it overnight in the fridge or use the microwave for a quicker option.
Recipes To Make With Dressing
We all know how dressing can take a salad to a whole new level, but it’s also a secret weapon in so many other dishes. For a tangy twist on dinner, try this cozy Ranch Cheddar Chicken and Broccoli Bake. And when you're craving something cool and creamy, you can’t go wrong with Creamy Pasta Salad, Sour Cream Cheddar Pasta Salad, or Cucumber Ranch Turkey Wraps.
Crockpot Chicken Recipes
📖 Recipe
Olive Garden Crock Pot Chicken
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breast, boneless and skinless
- 16 oz olive Garden dressing (one bottle)
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 16 oz pasta
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the crock pot and pour the entire bottle of Olive Garden salad dressing over the chicken breasts.
- Add the ½ grated Parmesan cheese to the crock pot.
- Add the block of cream cheese to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 6 hours.
- With about 15 minutes left in the crock pot cook time, cook your pasta on the stove. Drain and set aside when done.
- When the cook time is done, stir to break up the cream cheese and create the sauce.
- Shred the chicken in the crock pot. You can use two forks, to shred the chicken.
- Add the cooked pasta to the slow cooker and top with the ¼ cup remainder of the Parmesan cheese.
- Mix to combine.
Notes
- Let this cook for 6 hours on the low setting as opposed to 4 hours on the high setting for the best results.
- For easy shredding, use these shredding claws.
Beth says
This looks absolutely delicious and full of flavor! I can’t wait to try this recipe! Going to be such a hit here so excited to make this tomorrow night for dinner!
Alina says
I'm always looking for a good pasta recipe! This looks delicious and simple, saving it for later!
Cate says
Wow! What a simple and delicious looking recipe, saving this to make soon!
Tania | Fit Foodie Nutter says
Love how quick and easy this is! Such a perfect dinner recipe for any day of the week.
Teodora Grujic says
Looks delicious! My kids will love it! Thank you for sharing!