As the evening sun sets, the urge to order takeout grows strong. But, what if you could make Olive Garden’s Italian dressing at home? This Olive Garden Dressing Chicken recipe is perfect for busy nights. It’s a tasty meal that everyone will enjoy.
This dish combines tender chicken with a creamy sauce, using Olive Garden’s Italian dressing. It’s a recipe that captures the restaurant’s flavor, right in your kitchen. With just a few ingredients, you can make a meal that’s both comforting and delicious.
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Why This Copycat Olive Garden Recipe Is a Must-Try
If you love Olive Garden’s flavors but don’t want to go out, try this slow cooker chicken pasta recipe. It brings the taste of the restaurant right to your kitchen. You’ll enjoy the creamy sauce and Italian spices that Olive Garden is known for.
Restaurant-Quality Flavor at Home
Making Olive Garden flavors at home is simple. This olive garden crock pot chicken recipe uses Italian salad dressing, cream cheese, and Parmesan. It tastes like a restaurant dish. The slow cooker keeps the chicken moist and the sauce creamy.
Perfect for Busy Weeknights
This slow cooker chicken pasta is great for busy nights. Just add the ingredients to the slow cooker and forget about it. In a few hours, you’ll have a tasty meal for your family.
Family-Friendly Meal Option
This olive garden crock pot chicken is loved by both kids and adults. Its comforting flavors and creamy texture are a hit. It’s a dish that everyone will enjoy.
“This copycat Olive Garden recipe brings restaurant-quality taste to your home kitchen with minimal effort. It’s a must-try for busy families craving the beloved flavors of their favorite Italian restaurant.”
Essential Ingredients for Olive Garden Dressing Chicken
To make the classic Olive Garden Dressing Chicken at home, you need a few key ingredients. The base is chicken breasts, which are boneless and skinless. This provides the perfect protein.
The flavor comes from Olive Garden Italian dressing. It’s zesty and lemon-infused, making the dish taste like it’s from the restaurant.
The recipe also includes cream cheese and Parmesan cheese. These add creaminess and richness. Together, they make a smooth and flavorful sauce that coats the chicken.
No Olive Garden Dressing Chicken is complete without pasta. Penne or fettuccine pasta is best to soak up all the delicious flavors.
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts | 3 |
| Olive Garden Italian Dressing | 16 oz (1 bottle) |
| Cream Cheese | 8 oz |
| Grated Parmesan Cheese | 3/4 cup |
| Pasta (Penne or Fettuccine) | 16 oz |
With these ingredients, you can make a delicious Olive Garden Dressing Chicken dish at home. The key is to use the signature Olive Garden Italian dressing. It’s what makes this recipe special.
Kitchen Tools and Equipment Needed
To make the tasty Olive Garden Chicken at home, you’ll need some basic kitchen tools. First, a 6-quart slow cooker is ideal for this crock pot olive garden chicken recipe. It lets you cook a big batch for your family easily.
Slow Cooker Specifications
When picking a slow cooker, look for one with low and high settings. This lets you adjust cooking time and temperature. A programmable timer is also handy, so you can set it and forget it while the crock pot olive garden chicken cooks perfectly.
Additional Kitchen Essentials
- A large pasta pot for boiling noodles to go with your Olive Garden Chicken
- Measuring cups and spoons for accurate ingredient amounts
- Sturdy utensils, like a fork or two forks, for shredding the chicken
- A non-stick cooking spray or slow cooker liner for easy cleanup
While some might prefer a certain brand, the most important thing is a high-quality, reliable slow cooker. With the right tools, you can easily make the Olive Garden Chicken at home.
Step-by-Step Preparation Method
Making the famous olive garden crock pot chicken or slow cooker chicken pasta is easy. This guide will help you make a delicious homemade version quickly. It’s perfect for when you want to taste the restaurant’s flavors at home.
- Begin by putting the chicken breasts in your slow cooker. Make sure they’re in a single layer for even cooking.
- Then, drizzle the Olive Garden dressing or your favorite Italian marinade over the chicken. Coat it evenly.
- Next, sprinkle the chicken with grated Parmesan cheese and lots of black pepper to taste.
- Cut the cream cheese into cubes and scatter them over the chicken. This will make a creamy sauce as it cooks.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Wait until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- After cooking, use two forks to shred the chicken into small pieces in the slow cooker.
- Cook the pasta, like fettuccine or penne, until it’s al dente, following the package instructions.
- Finally, mix the shredded chicken and cooked pasta in the slow cooker. Stir well to combine the flavors.
Your olive garden crock pot chicken or slow cooker chicken pasta is ready to enjoy. Serve it with a crisp salad or your favorite veggie side for a full meal.
Slow Cooker Cooking Tips and Techniques
Mastering slow-cooked crock pot chicken dishes, like this Olive Garden copycat, is all about knowing your slow cooker. A few key tips and techniques will help your crock pot olive garden chicken turn out tender and flavorful every time.
Temperature Settings Guide
Cook the chicken on the low setting for 5-6 hours or the high setting for 3-4 hours. The low setting lets flavors blend slowly, while the high setting cooks faster when you’re short on time. Always keep the lid closed to keep the temperature steady.
Timing Recommendations
Chicken breasts are done when they shred easily with a fork. Thicker pieces might need 30 minutes to an hour more. Try not to overcook to keep the chicken moist and tender.
Proper Chicken Handling
Handling raw chicken safely is crucial. Make sure it’s thawed before cooking to prevent bacterial growth. The chicken must reach 165°F (74°C) to be safe. Cutting thicker breasts in half after 2.5 hours helps with even cooking.
Follow these tips for a delicious, stress-free Olive Garden-inspired crock pot chicken dish. Your family will love it. Happy slow cooking!
Creating the Perfect Creamy Sauce
The creamy sauce is the highlight of this olive garden dressing chicken recipe. As the chicken cooks, the cream cheese melts into the Olive Garden dressing. This creates a rich, velvety sauce that coats everything evenly.
To get the sauce just right, we mix heavy cream and whole milk. The heavy cream adds a luxurious texture. The milk balances the richness, making the sauce silky-smooth.
After shredding the chicken, make sure to mix everything well. Some people add cream of chicken soup for extra creaminess. The result is a sauce that tastes like it came from a restaurant, with a flavor that everyone will love.
“The sauce is the real hero in this dish – it’s so velvety and perfectly balanced, it takes the olive garden dressing chicken to the next level.”
To get the sauce just right, watch the cooking time and temperature closely. Let it simmer gently to blend the flavors and thicken the sauce. With a bit of care, you’ll get a creamy sauce that makes this easy dinner special.
How to Cook Pasta for This Recipe
When making this tasty Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta, cooking the pasta right is key. Cook the penne pasta for 8-10 minutes as the package says. This ensures the noodles stay firm and match the creamy chicken mix.
Al Dente Timing Tips
To get the perfect al dente, cook the pasta a bit less than the package suggests. It will soften more when mixed with the hot chicken and sauce in the slow cooker. Cook it for a minute or two less to keep it just right.
Pasta Selection Guide
- Penne pasta is the classic choice for this dish, but rotini or fusilli work great too.
- Go for a top-notch pasta brand to keep the noodles firm during slow cooking.
- Drain the pasta well before adding it to the slow cooker. This stops the sauce from getting too watery.
By following these easy pasta cooking tips, you’ll make a slow cooker chicken pasta that’s just as good as Olive Garden’s.
Combining and Finishing the Dish
Once the olive garden dressing chicken is tender and shredded, and the pasta is al dente, it’s time to mix everything. Gently add the chicken to the slow cooker with the creamy sauce. Stir until the pasta is well coated, making each bite full of olive garden taste.
If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of pasta water to thin it. Let the slow cooker chicken pasta sit for a few minutes. This helps the flavors blend together before serving. Your family will love the tender chicken, al dente pasta, and creamy sauce.
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts | 1.5-2 lbs |
| Olive Garden Italian Dressing | 1 bottle |
| Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese | 1 cup |
| Minced Garlic | 4 cloves |
| Penne Pasta | 16 oz |
This Crockpot olive garden dressing chicken pasta recipe serves 6 people. It takes about 5 minutes to prepare. It cooks for 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low, with 770 kcal per serving.
“The combination of the tender, shredded chicken and the creamy, flavorful sauce is simply divine. This recipe is a keeper!”
– Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Serving Suggestions and Pairings
Serve the Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta hot. Add extra grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley on top. This makes the meal more enjoyable.
Pair it with a side salad and Olive Garden Italian dressing. It brings out the flavors. Garlic bread or breadsticks also go well with it.
Complementary Side Dishes
Adding steamed vegetables like broccoli or green beans is a good idea. They add color and nutrition. The creamy chicken and pasta go well with these fresh sides.
You can also serve the pasta separately. Then, spoon the chicken mixture over it. This lets everyone choose how much they want.
Garnishing Ideas
Make your dish look great by adding Parmesan cheese and parsley. These simple touches boost the taste and look. They will impress everyone at the table.