Olive Garden Crock Pot Chicken - Mess for Less (2024)

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!

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

Olive Garden Dressing Chicken

Just imagine, with 5 minutes of prep time, you've prepared a meal that the family will love. This recipe is the definition of easy, as it uses just 5 key ingredients (plus a pinch of salt and pepper for that perfect seasoning). This crockpot Olive Garden chicken will win over even the pickiest eaters in the family. The combination of tender chicken breast, zesty Olive Garden dressing, and velvety cream cheese is a winner.

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.

How to make Olive Garden Chicken Crock Pot

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.

Then it is time for a generous sprinkle of Parmesan 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.

Set your Crock-Pot on low and cook for 6 hours. 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. Once the crock pot is done cooking,
stir the contents to blend the softened cream cheese into a sauce.

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.

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.

What Can You Serve With Olive Garden Italian Chicken?

You can serve Olive Garden chicken pasta with a fresh, crisp side salad with a light vinaigrette dressing. Warm and buttery garlic bread pairs perfectly with this recipe. You can even use the bread to soak up any extra sauce. Of course, you can always opt for some breadsticks for a true Olive Garden experience! Steamed veggies such as broccoli or green beans are great if you're looking for a healthier side dish.

How To Store Dressing Chicken?

If you have any leftover Olive Garden Crock Pot Chicken, you are going to want to store them properly so you can enjoy them again. Let the chicken and pasta cool before transferring the meal to an airtight container. I love these containers since they come in a variety of sizes. You can refrigerate this chicken for up to 3-4 days. If you want to freeze leftovers, you can place them in a freezer-safe bag and freeze them for up to 3 months. To enjoy again from frozen, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave.

Can I Use Frozen Chicken In The Crockpot?

I am not a fan of using frozen chicken in the crock pot because of food temperature issues. It is much safer to use chicken that is defrosted or fresh when using the crock pot. You will want to be sure to fully defrost the chicken before adding it to the crock pot. You can thaw the chicken in the refrigerator overnight or defrost it in the microwave.

Recipes To Make With Dressing

We all know how dressing can take a salad to a whole new level. But salad dressing can also work magic in a number of recipes. Beyond salad, you can drizzle dressing over grilled vegetables, or mix it into your favorite pasta for an extra burst of flavor. Dressing especially works well in a cold pasta salad. So next time you are cooking, think outside the box, or bottle as the case may be. Enjoy some of these recipes that use dressing in a new way.

• Creamy Pasta Salad
• Ranch Cheddar Chicken and Broccoli Bake
• Cucumber Ranch Turkey Wraps
• Sour Cream Cheddar Pasta Salad

Essentials For Chicken With Olive Garden Dressing

To make this Olive Garden Italian Dressing Chicken at home, you'll need a few kitchen essentials to make the cooking process easy. Of course, you will need a quality slow cooker. If you already have one, make sure to pick up some accessories that are lifesavers when using a crockpot. Crockpot liners are great for containing the mess. A good food thermometer will tell you when that chicken is safe to eat. And don't forget a travel bag if you plan to take that crock pot on the road!

Hamilton Beach Portable 6 Quart Set & Forget Digital Programmable Slow Cooker Lock, Dishwasher Safe Crock & Lid, Temperature Probe, Stainless SteelMAEXUS Meat Claws for Shredding Pulled Pork Chicken and Beef, Barbecue Meat Shredder, BBQ Grill Tools Accessories Gift for Smoker Slow Cooker Meat Claws (2 Pcs)ChefAid Slow Cooker Liners, 100% Silicone Reusable Crock Pot Insert Accessories for 6-8 Oval or Round Quart Slow Cookers, Food Safe & Dishwasher Safe (Grey-Mint)Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Regular (Fits 3-8 Quarts), 6 Count (Pack of 2), 12 TotalHamilton Beach Portable Slow Cooker Travel Bag, Insulated Carrier Case for 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 Quart Crock, Internal Mesh Net Holds Pot in Place, Compatible with Other Brands, Black (33002)Multifunctional Spoon Rest, 2PCS Foldable Pot Lid Holder Spoon Rest Pan Pot Cover Lid Rack Shelf Stand Holder for Stove Top Kitchen Gadgets Utensil Holder for Home Use Stove Spoon Rest

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.

Crockpot Chicken Recipes

📖 Recipe