Description
Creamy Olive Garden Chicken Pasta made with zesty Italian dressing, cream cheese, and Parmesan—easy, cheesy, and ready in under 40 minutes!
Ingredients
1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
16 oz Olive Garden Italian Dressing (or any zesty Italian dressing)
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ tsp black pepper
8 oz cream cheese
16 oz penne pasta
Extra Parmesan cheese, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Cook the Chicken:
In a large pot over medium heat, add chicken breasts and Italian dressing.
Cover and cook for 15–20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and fork-tender.
Shred and Make the Sauce:
Remove chicken from the pot and shred using two forks.
Return shredded chicken to the pot and stir in Parmesan, black pepper, and cream cheese.
Mix until cream cheese is fully melted and the sauce becomes smooth.
Cook the Pasta:
While the sauce simmers, cook pasta according to package instructions in a separate pot.
Drain and set aside.
Combine and Serve:
Add cooked pasta to the creamy chicken mixture and toss until well combined.
Serve warm, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Make it a full meal by adding spinach, mushrooms, or sun-dried tomatoes.
- For a slow cooker version, cook chicken and dressing on low for 4 hours, then shred and add remaining ingredients.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
