Description
Creamy Chicken Penne Pasta: Comfort in Every Bite
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) penne pasta
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth (low sodium)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup baby spinach or chopped sun-dried tomatoes (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook penne in well-salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium. Add minced garlic and sauté 30–60 seconds until fragrant. Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to deglaze the pan. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Reduce heat to low. Slowly stir in Parmesan until smooth and creamy.
- Add cooked pasta and chicken to the sauce. Stir to coat evenly. Add spinach or sun-dried tomatoes if using. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: Creamy Chicken Penne Pasta