One of the popular TikTok recipes we love is Olive Garden chicken pasta, an easy slow cooker dinner that’s creamy, comforting and loaded with flavor. Serve it with a side of warm breadsticks, a glass of wine and some Frank Sinatra tunes, and it’ll feel like a night out at your favorite family restaurant!
What’s in Olive Garden Chicken Pasta?
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
The ingredients for this recipe are so easy to find. Layer boneless chicken breasts, Olive Garden Italian dressing, cream cheese and Parmesan cheese in a slow cooker. In a few hours, you can slice or shred the chicken, stir in some pasta and dinner is ready! The bottled dressing is a great shortcut ingredient that serves as the cooking liquid and adds loads of zesty flavor from garlic, cheese and herbs.
How to Make Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
This recipe is adapted from the version on The Magical Slow Cooker blog. It’s a hearty comfort dish that makes 6-8 servings. Serve it warm with breadsticks or garlic bread and a fresh green salad.
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts, trimmed of any fat
- 1 16-ounce bottle Olive Garden Signature Italian Dressing
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1/4 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese, plus extra for sprinkling on the finished dish
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 16 ounces cavatappi pasta
- Optional: Toasted breadcrumbs and minced fresh parsley
Editor’s Tip: Use fresh Parmesan cheese instead of shelf-stable shake cheese for this dish. It melts smoothly into the sauce.
Tools You’ll Need
Directions
Step 1: Start with the chicken
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
Spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick spray. Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in the bottom.
Step 2: Add the dressing and cheese
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
Pour all of the Olive Garden dressing over the chicken breasts. Place the brick of cream cheese on top of the chicken. Sprinkle the grated fresh Parmesan over everything, along with the black pepper.
Step 3: Cook the chicken
Set the slow cooker to high, cover and cook everything for about 4 hours until the chicken is done. (It should have an internal temperature of 165°F.) You can also cook it on the low setting for about 6-7 hours.
Step 4: Prepare the pasta
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
Shortly before the slow cooker is done, cook the cavatappi pasta according to the package directions and then drain. Already threw the box out? Here’s how to cook pasta.
Step 5: Blend the sauce
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
Using tongs or two forks, move the chicken to a plate or cutting board. Then, use a stick blender to blend the sauce inside the slow cooker for 2-3 minutes until it’s smooth and creamy. If you don’t have a stick blender, use a hand whisk.
Editor’s Tip: Blending the sauce at this stage before other ingredients are added is the easiest way to get a smooth and creamy sauce with no lumps or oily spots.
Step 6: Shred the chicken
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
Use two forks to pull the cooked chicken breast apart into shreds. You can do this on a cutting board or place the chicken back in the slow cooker and shred it there. The chicken should be very tender and pull apart easily. Place the shredded chicken back in the slow cooker, if you haven’t already.
Step 7: Add the pasta
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
Add the cooked cavatappi pasta to the slow cooker. Gently stir everything together so the pasta and chicken are coated with the sauce.
Step 8: Serve
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
Spoon the Olive Garden chicken pasta onto plates or pasta bowls. Top each dish with a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese. You can also sprinkle on finely diced parsley and toasted breadcrumbs for color and a little crunch.
Tips for Making Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
What are some other methods for shredding chicken?
When it comes to how to shred chicken, you have a few options. If the chicken breasts are cool enough to handle, pull the chicken into shreds with your hands—this is actually an easier way to do it than using two forks, but only if the meat is cool. Another method is to slice the cooked chicken breasts into a few chunks and place them in the bowl of a stand mixer. Run the mixer on medium with the paddle attachment to break the chicken up into shreds in just a few seconds.
How can you make Olive Garden chicken pasta your own?
- Change the pasta: This Olive Garden Crockpot chicken recipe works with other pasta shapes—just choose one that’s sturdy so it will hold up under the chicken and creamy sauce. Short pastas with twists or ridges to hold the sauce work well, including penne, rotini, rigatoni, elbow macaroni and gemelli. Or, go with flat, wide strands of pappardelle.
- Use chicken thighs:Â Another swap you can make is to use boneless chicken thighs instead of breasts. Just increase the slow cooker time to about 6 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
- Add vegetables: When it’s getting near the end of the slow cooker time, lightly sauté some vegetables in a little olive oil until tender. Strips of red or green bell peppers, thinly sliced red onion, broccoli florets, or sliced cherry tomatoes are all good options. Stir them into the sauce with the pasta and chicken.
What can you serve with Olive Garden chicken pasta?
Breadsticks, of course! Make a batch of warm copycat Olive Garden breadsticks to serve on the side. An Italian chopped salad or roasted vegetables would also be tasty with your Olive Garden pasta.
How do you store leftovers of Olive Garden chicken pasta?
Once the pasta is cool, store any leftovers in a sealed dish in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat the pasta, stir in a little extra Olive Garden dressing or some cream first to help loosen the noodles and sauce.
You can also freeze this Olive Garden Crockpot chicken. Allow it to cool completely, then scoop the chicken pasta into one large casserole pan or into individual containers. Seal them well and then freeze for up to 3e months. To reheat, allow the frozen chicken pasta to thaw in the fridge overnight. Bake the covered casserole pan at 350°F for 45 minutes to an hour until it’s heated through. Individual containers can be warmed up in the microwave.
Our Best Olive Garden Copycat Recipes
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Cheese Ravioli
I love to bake and cook, especially Italian dishes like this homemade ravioli recipe. In fact, my idea of a perfect day consists of cooking my family's favorite foods then watching them dig in!—Lori Daniels, Hartland, Michigan. If you like this, learn how to make
Olive Garden's black tie mousse cake.
Get Our Recipe for Homemade Ravioli
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Breadsticks
Fresh, buttery and oh-so delicious, these copycat Olive Garden breadsticks taste just like the real deal. Plus, they can be on the table in less than an hour! —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Get Our Recipe for Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Fettuccine AlfredoThis easy Alfredo sauce is creamy, comforting and coats fettuccine noodles in fine fashion. This recipe is wonderful as is, but sometimes I like to add sliced fresh mushrooms and black olives that have been sautéed in butter and garlic. —Jo Gray, Park City, Montana
Inspired by: Chocolate Brownie Lasagna
Olive Garden Chocolate Lasagna is truly something else. It’s one thing to have a brownie with tangy cream cheese frosting slathered on top (orÂ
swirled in the batter). It’s a whole other ball game to multiply that four times. —Molly Allen
Get Our Recipe for Chocolate Lasagna
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Zuppa ToscanaI let my young son pick out seed packets and he chose kale, which grew like crazy. This hearty soup helped make good use of it and rivals a restaurant version that we love.
—Michelle Babbie, Malone, New York
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Five Cheese Ziti al FornoAfter having the five-cheese ziti at Olive Garden, I tried to make my own version of it—and I think I got pretty close. I always double this when I'm making it and freeze the second one for another meal. —Keri Whitney, Castro Valley, California
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Chicken Marsala
This classic recipe is a staple at Italian restaurants everywhere. Perhaps it’s the juicy, tender chicken breasts, or maybe it’s the flavorful, slightly sweet, mushroom wine sauce. Not to mention the side of creamy, dreamy fettuccine Alfredo. Whatever the reason, it’s a dish that we love to eatÂ
and love to make at home. —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Get Our Recipe for Copycat Chicken Marsala
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Pasta e FagioliHere's an Italian favorite made easier by using prepared spaghetti sauce and canned broth for the flavorful base. —Cindy Garland, Limestone, Tennessee
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Lasagna ClassicoWant to know how to make lasagna for a casual holiday meal? You can't go wrong with this deliciously rich meat lasagna recipe. My grown sons and daughter-in-law request it for their birthdays, too. —Pam Thompson, Girard, Illinois
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Spinach-Artichoke DipWhenever I go to an event, I'm always asked to bring this hot dip. Five types of cheese make it a standout and oh-so delicious. I love its party-ready convenience— I serve it straight from the slow cooker, so set-up and clean-up are a breeze! —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry ToppingThe creamy texture and lovely look of this strawberry cheesecake always get compliments. —L.C. Herschap, Luling, Texas
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Chicken ParmigianaMy husband used to order chicken parmigiana at restaurants for years. I found this cheesy chicken parmesan recipe in our local newspaper, adjusted it for two and began making this at home. After 50 years of marriage, I still enjoy making his favorite recipes. -Lola Butler, Sun City, California
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Toasted RavioliWhile visiting a friend who had just moved to St. Louis, Missouri, I tried these toasted ravioli at almost every restaurant! When I got home, I had to try to replicate them, and this recipe comes pretty close. —Cristina Carrera, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Raspberry LemonadeHere's a concentrate that allows you to enjoy a refreshing summer beverage any time of year. Sweet raspberries balance the tartness from lemons. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Giant Cheese Stuffed ShellsMore cheese, please! You'll get your fill from saucy jumbo pasta shells loaded with four kinds—ricotta, Asiago, mozzarella and cottage cheese. Do the prep work, and then freeze according to the recipe directions to have a ready-to-bake meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Shrimp AlfredoI make this spicy shrimp pasta a lot because it's a something my family never seems to get tired of. The sauce is so fast to make I can get it done while the fettuccine is cooking. In the past, I have added red peppers and spinach, but who's to say you could not add mushrooms or more or less spice. —Stephanie Beluk, Sharpsburg, Georgia
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Chicken & Gnocchi SoupI tasted
chicken gnocchi soup at Olive Garden and wanted to see if I could re-create it myself at home. Here's the delicious result! It's wonderful on a cool evening. —Jaclynn Robinson, Shingletown, California
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Marinara Dipping SauceMy mother, who was Italian American, called marinara sauce "gravy." She made this marinara sauce recipe in big batches several times a month, so it was a staple on our dinner table. A mouthwatering aroma filled the house each time she cooked it. —James Grimes, Frenchtown, New Jersey
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Italian MargaritaWith this amaretto margarita, add a touch of Italian flair to the classic lime drink. —James Schend,
Taste of Home Deputy Editor
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Herb-Grilled SalmonMy roasted salmon is so simple but elegant enough to serve to company. I make it on days when I have less than an hour to cook. The salmon seasoning is an easy way to add flavor. —Luanne Asta, Hampton Bays, New York
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Famous House SaladAntipasto ingredients are sliced and diced to make this substantial chop salad. I like to buy sliced meat from the deli and chop it all up so you can get a bit of everything in each bite. —Kim Molina, Duarte, California
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Eggplant ParmigianaWe really like eggplant and would rather have it baked than fried. This can be served as a side dish or main dish. —Donna Wardlow-Keating, Omaha, Nebraska
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Minestrone Soup
It’s hard to not go overboard when you’re at Olive Garden. From the Never Ending Pasta Bowls to the all-you-can-eat breadsticks andÂ
tiramisu for dessert, it’s pretty much a carbapalooza. Luckily, for people who want a lighter option, there’s Olive Garden minestrone soup. —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Get Our Recipe for Minestrone
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Spaghetti with Meat SauceMy homemade spaghetti sauce got rave reviews, but it was so time-consuming to make on the stovetop. My family loves this flavorful slow-cooker version. —Arlene Sommers, Redmond, Washington
Inspired by: Olive Garden's TiramisuInstead of using coffee and rum, I let cinnamon shine in this tiramisu. It's best if eaten within two days—if it even lasts that long! —Cathy Geniti, Saratoga Springs, New York
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Grilled Chicken MargheritaI invented this roast chicken to prove goat cheese really is delish. I served it to my skeptical family without telling them, and they gobbled it up. But any soft cheese will do. —Gilda Lester, Millsboro, DE
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Seafood AlfredoMy guests usually can't believe I prepared this meal myself. The rich, creamy main dish features plenty of seafood flavors with a hint of garlic and lemon. Frozen peas and a jar of Alfredo sauce make it a simple supper that will be requested time and again. —Melissa Mosness, Loveland, Colorado
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Rotini with Meat SauceMy husband loves pasta; I cringe over the messy dishes. On Spaghetti Day, as he calls it, I make a one-pot saucy rotini that keeps everyone happy. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Alfredo Dipping SauceWhen I found out I had celiac disease and couldn't have fettuccine Alfredo, I was determined to figure out a way to re-create it. I mix this homemade alfredo sauce with gluten-free multigrain pasta, but you can use any style of pasta. —Jackie Charlesworth Stiff, Frederick, Colorado. You can use this sauce to make
Asiago tortelloni alfredo with grilled chicken.
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Spaghetti & MeatballsOne evening, we had unexpected company. Since I had the ingredients on hand, I made this spaghetti and meatballs recipe. Everyone raved! This classic recipe makes a big batch and is perfect for entertaining. —Mary Lou Koskella, Prescott, Arizona
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Spaghetti with Traditional Marinara and Sautéed ShrimpFlavorful marinara sauce simmers for just a few hours. Right before mealtime, toss in the shrimp to cook quickly. Serve over hot spaghetti for a delicious weeknight dish that feels dressed up. —Sue Mackey, Jackson, Wisconsin
Inspired by: Olive Garden's Warm Italian DoughnutsLight, crispy pastry puffs, sopaipillas are a sweet way to round out a spicy meal. They make a nice winter dessert served warm and topped with honey or sugar. —Mary Anne McWhirter, Pearland, Texas
Up Next: Copycat Olive Garden Soups, Salad and Breadsticks
Updated: Aug. 08, 2023
