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Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.1 from 64 reviews
  • Author: Kimberly
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 hours 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish inspired by the popular Olive Garden Italian dressing. Combining tender slow-cooked chicken with a rich parmesan cream sauce and perfectly cooked penne pasta, this recipe delivers a hearty, comforting meal with minimal effort using a crockpot.

Ingredients

Chicken and Sauce

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 16 oz Olive Garden Italian dressing
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Pasta and Garnish

  • 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Place chicken in crockpot: Arrange the boneless, skinless chicken breasts evenly in the crockpot base to form the foundation of the dish.
  2. Add Italian dressing: Pour the 16 oz Olive Garden Italian dressing directly over the chicken breasts, ensuring they are well coated for flavor infusion.
  3. Add cream cheese and seasonings: Add the softened cream cheese, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes on top of the chicken and dressing mixture.
  4. Cook the chicken: Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and can be shredded easily with forks.
  5. Shred the chicken: Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken directly in the crockpot and mix thoroughly with the creamy sauce to combine flavors evenly.
  6. Cook pasta: Prepare the penne or rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
  7. Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta and reserved pasta water into the crockpot. Stir well to coat all the pasta evenly with the creamy chicken sauce.
  8. Warm and meld flavors: Set the crockpot to WARM and let the pasta and sauce sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to blend beautifully.
  9. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top just before serving to add a fresh herbal note and vibrant color.

Notes

  • Using softened cream cheese helps it melt smoothly into the sauce.
  • Red pepper flakes are optional for added heat; adjust quantity according to your taste.
  • Reserve some pasta water to loosen the sauce and help it cling to the pasta.
  • Cooking times for the chicken can vary depending on your crockpot model; check for tenderness before shredding.
  • Fresh parsley garnish adds a nice touch of color and freshness.

Find it online: https://slsrecipes.com/crockpot-olive-garden-chicken-pasta-recipe-2/