Description
Indulge in a restaurant-quality meal at home with this creamy chicken penne pasta. Tender, golden-seared chicken breast pieces are tossed with perfectly cooked al dente penne in a rich, velvety garlic parmesan sauce. By using a butter-based emulsion and freshly grated cheese, this dish achieves a luxurious, consistent texture that clings beautifully to the pasta. It is the perfect reliable, comforting dinner solution for busy weeknights, offering a balanced and savory flavor profile that satisfies the whole family without requiring complex techniques.
Ingredients
16 oz Penne pasta
1.5 lbs Chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1.5 cups Heavy cream
1 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
4 cloves Garlic, minced
2 tbsp Unsalted butter
0.5 cup Low-sodium chicken broth
Instructions
Boil a large pot of salted water and cook penne until al dente.
Reserve one cup of pasta water and drain the noodles.
Heat one tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Sear chicken pieces until golden brown and cooked through, then set aside.
In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter and sauté minced garlic until fragrant.
Whisk in the heavy cream and chicken broth, simmering until the sauce thickens slightly.
Stir in the parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
Return the chicken to the skillet, add the pasta, and toss to coat thoroughly.
If the sauce is too thick, add small splashes of the reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
Notes
Use bronze-cut pasta for better sauce adhesion. Always use freshly grated parmesan rather than pre-shredded to ensure a smooth, non-grainy sauce. You can substitute half-and-half for a slightly lighter sauce texture.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Baking
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 145mg