Oh my goodness! You are going to fall in love with this keto-friendly twist on the viral Crockpot Chicken with Olive Garden Dressing! This low-carb version combines tender chicken, cream cheese, zesty Italian dressing, and crisp broccoli. It’s restaurant-quality flavor right from your own kitchen – what’s not to love?

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I don’t know if you’ve seen the original viral recipe that has been all over TikTok and IG. It had tender chicken in a creamy Olive Garden dressing sauce, mixed with penne pasta, and topped with lots of parmesan cheese. It looked so good, but I knew all that pasta would be too many carbs for me.

I really wanted to make this dish with fewer carbs and without losing any of the delicious flavor. Then it hit me—my husband always swaps out the pasta for broccoli when we eat at Olive Garden. He says broccoli soaks up all the yummy sauce just like pasta does. So I thought, why not try that here?

When I tried it, I was amazed! The broccoli soaked up all the creamy sauce, just like pasta would, but it also added a nice crunch to the dish. And the best part? It made the meal healthier, too!

** For my other TikTok viral recipes, check out this Chopped Italian Grinder Salad, Pizza Bowl with Cottage Cheese, and these delicious Buffalo Chicken Cucumber Rolls.

Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe

Chicken breast: This is the juicy and tender base of our dish.
Olive Garden Italian dressing: Adds a tangy and savory flavor to the chicken.
Cream cheese: Makes the sauce rich and creamy.
Garlic powder: Gives a nice, garlicky taste to the dish.
Black pepper: Adds a bit of spice and enhances the flavors.
Broccoli: Provides a healthy, green vegetable to the meal.
Shredded mozzarella cheese: Melts into the dish for a cheesy, delicious topping.

How to make Olive Garden Crockpot Chicken

I’ve included a step-by-step pictorial below if you are a visual learner like me. Show me, and I’ll remember. Tell me and…welp, I already forgot!! lol. For the full recipe and ingredients, make sure to scroll to the bottom of this post, where you’ll find the detailed printable recipe card.

Step 1: Place your skinless chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker.

Step 2: Pour the olive garden salad dressing over the chicken. Turn your slow cooker on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours (depending on the size of your chicken breast).

Step 3: Add in your cream cheese and spices.

Tip: The original TikTok recipe calls for an entire block of cream cheese, but I prefer much less in this recipe since we aren’t using an entire bottle of salad dressing. If you love cream cheese, feel free to add more.

Step 4: Next, you’ll shred the chicken. I like to shred mine very thin so that it mixes well.

Step 5: Steam your bag of broccoli, drain it well, and add it to the top of the chicken mixture, giving it a good stir. You can enjoy it right away if you like! The next step is optional if you’re short on time.

Step 6: Put everything into a greased 9×13 casserole dish, preheat your broiler, and sprinkle cheese on top! Pop it in the oven and watch it super close! The chicken and broccoli mixture is already hot and cooked through from the crockpot. All you need to do is to melt the cheese until it is bubbly and browned on top.

Tip: Watch it closely!! The broiler can burn the dish FAST!! It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes (prop 2-3, if that much).

While I was cooking this, EVERYONE in the house came to see what kind of delicious meal I was making. According to my family and the kids’ piano and voice teacher, who was giving lessons at the house that day, this was a grand slam.

Tips for making the BEST crockpot chicken with Olive Garden dressing (TikTok)

Keep it on time: I know it’s tempting, but DO NOT open the crockpot halfway through cooking. This will just slow down the cooking process, and you will have to wait even longer to enjoy this deliciousness.
Use fresh: You can always use fresh broccoli instead of steamed! – Chop the Broccoli and cut it into bite-sized florets, and follow the blanching directions below before adding it to the crockpot.
Blanch the Broccoli: If you’re like me, texture is everything! Blanching fresh broccoli keeps it bright green and tender-crisp. Simply boil it in water for 2-3 minutes, put it into an ice bath, rinse, and drain.
Drain well: You’ll want to make sure the broccoli is drained well before adding it to avoid excess water in the dish.
Mix the Cream Cheese: Soften the cream cheese by leaving it at room temperature for a bit (or pop it in the microwave). You can take out a little of the Italian dressing and mix it with the cream cheese first until it is thoroughly combined before pouring it over the chicken. This ensures a smoother, creamy sauce. If you have an emulsion blender, it makes it super creamy in seconds.
Broil for a Crispy Top: After everything is cooked, transfer the chicken to an oven-safe dish, sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top, and broil for a few minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.

Troubleshooting Tips

Sauce too thin? Mix in a little xanthan gum to thicken it up. Check out my post on Xanthum Gum Substitutes.
Is the chicken too dry? Next time, try using chicken thighs instead of breasts. I’m just not a fan of dark meat. I’ll take dry, lol.
Not cheesy enough? Feel free to add more mozzarella or mix in some parmesan. Can it ever be too cheesy?

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken breasts for this recipe?

The USDA recommends never adding frozen chicken to the crockpot because frozen takes longer to reach a safe internal temperature, which could cause food poisoning. I absolutely have food poisoning, so I’m not willing to risk it, although I know people do it all the time.

How do I keep the chicken from drying out?

No one likes dried-out chicken, yuck! To keep your tender chicken nice and juicy, make sure there’s enough sauce to cover it and avoid overcooking. (I always use a meat thermometer.)

How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?

Simple. The chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Make sure to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.

What side dishes go well with this meal?

I personally prefer to keep it simple with a fresh garden side salad and keto garlic bread or keto cheddar bay biscuits as side dishes for this meal – Yum!

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Absolutely. Just use a dairy-free cream cheese substitute and replace the mozzarella with a dairy-free cheese. The Olive Garden Italian dressing that I used is dairy-free, but make sure to always check the labels on your ingredients and package directions.

Can I make this meal ahead of time?

Yes, you can definitely prep this dish ahead of time! Here’s how:

Prepare the chicken mixture in the crockpot as directed.
Once cooked, transfer it to a baking dish, let it cool, then cover and refrigerate.
When you’re ready to eat (within 24 hours), preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Take the dish out of the fridge and remove the cover.
Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the filling is hot throughout. (Tip: Use a food thermometer to check – it should reach 165°F or 74°C in the center.)
Add the cheese topping and bake for another 5 minutes until melted.
For a golden-brown top, switch your oven to broil for the last 2-3 minutes. Watch it closely to avoid burning!

Yes, you can prepare everything ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook. Just make sure to cook it within 24 hours. (You can always cook it in the crock pot and pour it into the dish to bake later. The baking time in the oven will change since it will be cold from the fridge. Bake at 375 degrees until the filling is hot and the cheese is melted. If you want, you can turn on the broiler at the end to brown the cheese.

Different cooking methods

Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker): (Pressure Cooker): Cook chicken, sauce, and cream cheese on high pressure for 20 minutes with a quick release, then quick-release remaining pressure. Shred chicken. Add steamed, drained broccoli and use the Sauté function for 2-3 minutes until heated through.

Oven-Baked: Place chicken, sauce, and cream cheese in an oven-safe dish. Cover and bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (165°F internal). Shred chicken and mix well. Add steamed, drained broccoli and bake uncovered for another 5-10 minutes.

Stove-top: Cut chicken into pieces. Sear in a large skillet, add sauce and cream cheese, cover, and simmer on low for 25-30 minutes until chicken is tender. Shred chicken and mix well. Add steamed, drained broccoli and cook for another 5 minutes until heated through.

Storing and Reheating your Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole

Storing—When you make this delicious chicken in the slow cooker with olive garden dressing, you can always make sure it tastes just as amazing when you have leftovers. I store mine in individual airtight containers in the fridge, and this makes it super easy to reheat smaller personal portions quickly.

To Reheat—You can rewarm it in the microwave; just make sure to cover it with a steam lid or paper towel (or you’ll be deep-cleaning chicken and Italian dressing all over the microwave, lol). You can also reheat it in the oven or an air fryer at 350 degrees until it’s warmed all the way through. I like to use aluminum foil to cover it in the oven. It keeps the gooey cheese and toppings from burning.

Recipe Variations for Olive Garden Slow Cooker Chicken

Turkey Breast: Cook in a crockpot like chicken, shred, then follow the recipe.
Rotisserie Chicken: Skip the crockpot. Mix the shredded chicken with the ingredients and bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes.
Shrimp: Add to crockpot for the last 30 minutes, or if baking, add raw and cook for 15-20 minutes at 375°F.
Bacon Everything: Top with crispy bacon crumbles for a smoky crunch.
Creamy Ranch: Use ranch instead of Olive Garden dressing.
Buffalo Chicken: Mix in buffalo sauce, top with blue cheese instead of mozzarella.
Veggie Variations: Try green beans, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, or spinach. Cook first, then add like broccoli.

More Keto Crockpot Recipes:

close 45 degree angle shot of finished chicken and olive garden wiith broccolii viral tik tok recipe in a glass casserole dish sitting on a white napkin with black accents

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