Description
This comforting and protein-packed creamy chicken pasta is the ultimate weeknight dinner solution. By searing thin chicken breasts to golden perfection and building a rich, velvety sauce using high-quality heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan, you can achieve a restaurant-style meal in just 35 minutes. The addition of pasta water helps emulsify the sauce, ensuring a silky, consistent finish that perfectly coats every noodle. Simple, satisfying, and delicious, this recipe is sure to become a staple in your home kitchen.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced thin
12 oz penne pasta
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp dried Italian herbs
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the penne according to package directions until al dente.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Season the sliced chicken with salt, pepper, and dried Italian herbs.
Sear the chicken in the skillet until golden brown and cooked through, then remove and set aside.
Sauté the minced garlic in the same skillet for thirty seconds until fragrant.
Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, scraping the bottom to release the browned bits.
Reduce heat to low and pour in the heavy cream, simmering for three minutes until slightly thickened.
Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, toss in the pasta, and stir until well coated before serving.
Notes
Use fusilli as a great alternative to penne. Always use freshly grated Parmesan rather than pre-shredded to ensure the sauce emulsifies properly. Reserve a splash of pasta water to thin the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Baking
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 115mg