Description
Hearty, comforting, and endlessly customizable, this chicken pasta recipe brings together tender seared chicken, creamy sauce, and al dente pasta in under 45 minutes. Perfect for cozy dinners or meal prep.
Ingredients
Boneless chicken breasts or thighs
Dry pasta (penne, rotini, fettuccine)
Fresh garlic and onion
Heavy cream or half & half
Parmesan cheese
Olive oil
Salt, pepper, paprika
lemon juice
Fresh herbs (parsley or basil)
Instructions
1. Boil salted water, cook pasta to al dente, and reserve 1 cup pasta water.
2. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika. Sear in olive oil until golden and cooked through. Slice and set aside.
3. In the same pan, sauté onion and garlic. Deglaze with lemon juice.
4. Add cream (or milk + pasta water), parmesan, and whisk until smooth.
5. Toss in cooked pasta. Stir over low heat and fold in sliced chicken.
6. Finish with fresh herbs and serve hot.
Notes
Add mushrooms or spinach for more depth.
Try global twists: Thai chili oil, Moroccan harissa, or chipotle spice.
Meal-prep friendly—store up to 4 days, reheat with a splash of liquid.
Serve with crisp salads, roasted veggies, or pickled onions for balance.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: chicken pasta, creamy chicken, easy pasta recipe