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olive garden chicken pasta in gray skillet topped with fresh basil and cherry tomatoes.
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5 from 59 votes

Olive Garden Chicken Pasta Recipe

In your home you may not have all you can eat salad and Olive Garden breadsticks, but you can have this amazing Olive Garden Chicken Pasta recipe. Onion, garlic, and italian seasonings mixed with rich and smooth creamy cheese cover penne noodles with perfectly tender chicken on top. Mmm Mmm delicious!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time16 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4
Calories: 849kcal
Author: Courtney Paige

Equipment

  • large pot/skillet
  • strainer
  • Rubber Spatula
  • Meat Thermometer
  • tongs or fork

Ingredients

  • 14.5 oz penne pasta I used Barilla Protein+
  • 1 cup pasta water*
  • 1 lbs boneless chicken breasts or tenderloins
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small white onion diced
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 2/3 cup Olive Garden Light Italian Dresssing
  • 2 tbsp Italian seasoning packet mix
  • 1/2 cup shaved parmesan
  • 6-8 fresh basil leaves
  • 4 oz 1/3 fat cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup light butter

Instructions

  • In a stove pot (I use my OurPlace Always Pan which is deeper than a traditional skillet), boil water for noodles. Once the water is boiling, add in some salt and the penne. Cook according to package directions.
  • Save at least 1 cup of pasta water and set aside, then strain the pasta. Do not rinse and try to keep the pasta warm (in a bowl with a lid).
  • In the same stove pot/skillet, add the olive oil. Allow it to heat until fragrant. Spread around in the pan so it’s evenly coated. Add the chicken tenders, minced garlic, and onion. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, flipping the chicken half way through.
    raw chicken breasts and diced onion cooking in gray skillet.
  • Pour the Olive Garden Dressing into the pan with the chicken. Cover and allow the chicken to cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  • Use tongs or a fork to remove the cooked chicken from the pan dice into bite size pieces.
  • Without cleaning the pan, add the cooked pasta back into the warm pan/pot and turn the heat to medium-low.
  • Whisk in cream cheese cubes, light butter, Italian seasoning, and fresh parmesan cheese. Stir until everything is combined. If its thick, add 2 tablespoons of pasta water at a time until sauce-like consistency is reached.
    penne noodles in pot topped with cream cheese and shaved parmesan.
  • Top the pasta with the diced chicken, basil, and more shaved parm if desired. Add a crack of black pepper, serve hot and enjoy!
    olive garden chicken pasta in gray skillet topped with fresh basil and cherry tomatoes.

Video

Notes

*You may not need all, or even any pasta water depending how thick your sauce is, but be sure to save it before draining your noodles just incase*
If you have chicken breasts, cook them with the ones you’re using for this recipe! This is an easy way to meal prep additional, flavorful and tender chicken breasts.
This dish holds up great as leftovers! It will last a good 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave for 60-90 seconds until warm throughout.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 849kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 59g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 158mg | Sodium: 1521mg | Potassium: 965mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 10g