Tinis Creamy Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Rich pasta with shredded chicken, penne, creamy garlic sauce, and Parmesan for a comforting meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz penne pasta

→ Chicken

02 - 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (12 oz), rotisserie or homemade

→ Sauce

03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
07 - 1 cup heavy cream
08 - ½ cup chicken broth
09 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
11 - ½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
12 - Salt, to taste
13 - Black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

14 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
15 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook until al dente following package directions. Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water, and set aside.
02 - Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and sauté 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes, scraping any browned bits from the pan.
04 - Lower heat to low. Stir in heavy cream, then add Parmesan and mozzarella. Cook, stirring, until cheeses melt and sauce is smooth.
05 - Incorporate dried Italian herbs, salt, and black pepper to taste.
06 - Add shredded chicken and cooked penne to the sauce. Toss gently to coat. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water gradually until desired consistency is reached.
07 - Remove from heat. Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, but really it's done in less than half an hour.
  • The creamy garlic Parmesan sauce clings to every piece of penne in the most satisfying way.
  • You can use rotisserie chicken from the store and no one will ever know you took a shortcut.
  • It reheats beautifully the next day, which means lunch is already handled.
02 -
  • Don't let the cream boil or it might break and turn grainy, keep the heat low once you add it.
  • The pasta water is starchy magic, it helps the sauce cling and brings everything together without thinning out the flavor.
  • If your sauce seems too thick after sitting for a minute, just add a little more broth or pasta water and give it a quick stir.
03 -
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of the pre shredded kind, it melts smoother and tastes so much better.
  • If you want extra creaminess, stir in a tablespoon of cream cheese along with the other cheeses.
  • Taste the sauce before adding the chicken and pasta, that's your last chance to adjust the seasoning and get it just right.
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