One Pan Creamy Chicken Pasta (Printable Version)
Tender chicken and pasta in a rich parmesan cream sauce with vegetables, all cooked in one skillet.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
→ Vegetables
05 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped
→ Pasta & Liquids
09 - 10 oz penne or short pasta
10 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 1 cup heavy cream
12 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Oils & Extras
13 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
15 - Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
# Directions:
01 - Season chicken pieces thoroughly with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, ensuring even coating on all sides.
02 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned chicken and cook until lightly browned and cooked through, approximately 5-6 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside on a plate.
03 - In the same pan, add chopped onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
04 - Stir in diced red bell pepper and continue cooking for another 2 minutes until slightly softened.
05 - Add uncooked pasta to the pan, followed by chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir well to combine, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan for added flavor.
06 - Bring mixture to a gentle simmer. Cover with lid and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
07 - Return cooked chicken to the pan. Add baby spinach and Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly. Cook for 2-3 minutes until spinach wilts and sauce thickens slightly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Serve immediately while hot, garnished generously with chopped fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pan, which means maximum flavor and minimum cleanup
- The pasta cooks directly in the creamy sauce, absorbing every bit of seasoning
- Ready in 40 minutes from start to finish, perfect for busy weeknights
02 -
- The sauce will continue thickening off the heat, so don't worry if it looks slightly thin when you first remove the lid
- Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water before the final minutes if you prefer a looser sauce, you can always add it back in
03 -
- Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly and is less likely to curdle when added to hot broth
- Grate your own Parmesan instead of buying pre-shredded, it melts better and tastes fresher