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olive garden chicken and pasta

Northwestgal avatar
Recipe by
Vickie Parks
@Northwestgal
Renton, WA

Let me say from the start that this is NOT a copycat recipe taken from the Olive Garden menu. It's only named for that restaurant because the main flavor component uses Olive Garden's signature bottled salad dressing that you can buy at any grocery store. We usually serve this dish with a loaf of warm garlic bread, and it's a rather filling meal. Leftovers reheat quite well in the microwave. My husband loves this dish and asks for it quite often.

yield 8 serving(s)
prep time 5 Min
cook time 4 Hr
method Slow Cooker Crock Pot

Ingredients For olive garden chicken and pasta

  • 1 1/5 lb
    boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 1 pkg
    cream cheese, cut into about 8 chunks (8 oz)
  • 1 bottle
    Olive Garden signature Italian dressing (16 oz)
  • 1/4 c
    grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 tsp
    black pepper, or to taste (I usually use about 1 tsp)
  • 1 pkg
    penne pasta (or other tube-shaped pasta such as ziti, rigatoni; 16 oz)
  • 1/4 c
    grated Parmesan cheese, optional

How To Make olive garden chicken and pasta

  • 1
    Insert a Crock Pot liner into the slow cooker or spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
  • 2
    Place chicken breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker. Top with chunks of cream cheese. Pour the entire bottle of salad dressing on top, covering the chicken as much as possible. Sprinkle 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese on top, then season with black pepper.
  • 3
    Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on High setting for 4 hours (or on Low setting for 5 to 6 hours).
  • 4
    When there is about a half hour cooking time remaining, cook the pasta on the stovetop according to package directions. Drain pasta in colander.
  • 5
    After 4 hours of cooking, remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker (I usually do this while the pasta is cooking). Using 2 forks, shred the chicken finely.
  • 6
    Add the shredded chicken to the slow cooker. Then add drained pasta and additional Parmesan cheese (if using) to the slow cooker, and stir well. Serve immediately.
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