Introduction
Craving the comforting flavors of Olive Garden but want to enjoy them at home? This **Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken** recipe is the perfect solution! It’s an easy copycat version of a restaurant favorite that you can make in your slow cooker with minimal effort.
This **Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken** recipe captures the essence of Olive Garden’s creamy, Italian-inspired dishes. The chicken becomes incredibly tender and infused with flavor from the Italian dressing mix and Parmesan cheese, while the creamy sauce is rich and satisfying. Best of all, the crockpot does all the work, making it ideal for busy weeknights.
Ready to bring the taste of Olive Garden to your kitchen? Keep reading to discover the simple steps for making this amazing **Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken** recipe. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to create a restaurant-quality meal that the whole family will love, without ever leaving home.
For Olive Garden’s official menu and nutrition information, visit OliveGarden.com’s Menu. For more easy crockpot chicken recipes, check out Taste of Home’s Crock-Pot Chicken Recipes.
Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken
An easy copycat recipe for Olive Garden’s creamy Italian chicken, made in your slow cooker!
Ingredients:
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (1 ounce) packet dry Italian dressing mix
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup milk or heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions:
- Place chicken breasts in the bottom of a crockpot.
- Sprinkle dry Italian dressing mix over the chicken.
- Pour cream of chicken soup over the dressing mix.
- Pour milk or heavy cream over the soup.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, or until chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Shred chicken with two forks directly in the crockpot.
- Stir in fresh parsley (if using).
- Serve hot over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Ingredient Spotlight
Here’s what you’ll need to make this flavorful **Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken**:
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: The base of the recipe, they become incredibly tender in the slow cooker. You can substitute with chicken thighs for a richer flavor.
- Dry Italian Dressing Mix: A key ingredient that adds a blend of Italian herbs and spices, mimicking the Olive Garden flavor profile.
- Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup: This creates the creamy sauce base. You can substitute with condensed cream of mushroom soup for a slightly different flavor.
- Milk or Heavy Cream: Adds richness and creaminess to the sauce. Heavy cream will result in a thicker, more decadent sauce, while milk will be lighter.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, savory flavor and helps to thicken the sauce. Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best results.
- Chopped Fresh Parsley (Optional): Provides a fresh, herbaceous garnish that brightens the flavors of the dish.
For best results, use high-quality Parmesan cheese. Pre-grated Parmesan often contains cellulose, which can prevent it from melting smoothly.
Why This Recipe Works
This **Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken** recipe is a guaranteed success because it recreates the flavors of a beloved restaurant dish with the ease and convenience of slow cooking. The combination of Italian dressing mix, cream of chicken soup, and Parmesan cheese creates a creamy, flavorful sauce that perfectly complements the tender chicken.
- Effortless Cooking: The crockpot does all the work, allowing you to set it and forget it while you go about your day.
- Big Flavor with Minimal Ingredients: This recipe uses pantry staples to create a dish that’s bursting with Italian-inspired flavors.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to make this easy Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken:
- Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot.
- Sprinkle the dry Italian dressing mix evenly over the chicken.
- Pour the condensed cream of chicken soup over the dressing mix.
- Pour milk or heavy cream over the soup.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, or until chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Shred the chicken with two forks directly in the crockpot.
- Stir in fresh parsley, if using.
- Serve hot over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips to take your **Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken** to the next level:
Why it works: It adds color and locks in flavour.
Why it works: You’re already using slow cook time, make the sauce to the right texture
Why it works: That way you get the flavour and consistency you’re looking for.
Variations and Adaptations
Want to mix things up? Here are a few variations to try with this **Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken**:
| Variation | Ingredients | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Creamy Pesto Chicken | Add 1/4 cup pesto to the sauce in the last 30 minutes of cooking. | Stir in the pesto during the final 30 minutes of cooking time. |
| Spicy Italian Chicken | Add 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper to the sauce. | Add the red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the crockpot along with the other ingredients. |
| Mushroom Chicken | Add 8 ounces sliced mushrooms to the crockpot. | Add the sliced mushrooms to the crockpot along with the other ingredients. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Olive Garden’s most popular dish?
Olive Garden’s most popular dish is often considered to be their breadsticks and salad, or their Fettuccine Alfredo.How many carbs are in Olive Garden chicken giardiniera?
The carb content varies, but a typical serving contains around 40-50g of carbohydrates.What kind of cheese does Olive Garden use?
Olive Garden uses a variety of cheeses, most notably Parmesan and Romano cheese in many of their pasta dishes.How do you make Olive Garden Alfredo sauce thicker?
The easiest way to thicken Olive Garden’s Alfredo sauce is to add a mixture of cornstarch and water at the end.
Conclusion
Now you can make the best creamy chicken dish in the world thanks to our guide, Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken. This recipe is super simple and tasty, perfect for a quick weekday dinner.
This recipe has been a gamechanger in my cooking journey. Please let me know what you think!
