Creamy Chicken Pasta

Creamy chicken pasta – A thick and creamy chicken pasta skillet meal that will wow the entire family for dinner! Packed with flavor from onion, garlic, sauteed mushrooms, and parmesan, this creamy chicken mushroom pasta is a delicious one-pan dinner ready in 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Ingredients list for the Creamy Chicken Pasta

• 3 medium chicken breasts (if using large chicken breasts, slice horizontally)
• 1/2 lb penne pasta
• 3 tablespoons butter, divided
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 medium onion, minced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon marinara sauce (or your favorite tomato sauce)
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes, for garnish (optional)
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley, for garnish

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Directions

1. To make the creamy chicken mushroom pasta: Thoroughly season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon oregano on both sides. Cook penne pasta in plenty of boiling salted water, according to package directions.

2. In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter with a little oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side until browned. Once done and no longer pink, transfer the grilled chicken breasts to a plate and set aside covered.

3. To make the creamy mushroom parmesan sauce, add the remaining tablespoon butter to the same pan. Cook onion for one minute, then add garlic and cook for one minute, stirring regularly. Finally, add sliced mushrooms and cook until browned.

4. Slowly add chicken broth to the mushrooms to deglaze. Reduce the heat then progressively stir in marinara sauce, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese and mix to combine until smooth while simmering the mushroom sauce for 2-3 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

5. Reserve half the mushroom sauce in a bowl, and add the drained pasta to the skillet. Give a good stir to coat the pasta with sauce. Slice chicken breasts on a cutting board and arrange on top of the creamy pasta. Spoon the remaining of the creamy mushroom sauce on top of sliced chicken breasts, sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and chili pepper flakes, and serve the creamy chicken mushroom pasta immediately, directly from the skillet. Add a drizzle of good quality olive oil for an extra boost of flavor. Enjoy!

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Tips for the creamy chicken mushroom pasta recipe

Seared chicken breasts are mixed through a super creamy pasta sauce, cooked in one pan with garlic, mushrooms, onion, herbs, and parmesan! This easy chicken pasta recipe with mushrooms can be made by a total beginner! Here are a few tips to make the most gorgeous chicken pasta recipe ever:

• To prevent cooked pasta from sticking together, wait until the water is at a full, rapid boil before adding the penne. Then stir the pasta as it cooks, and continue stirring every 2-3 minutes to make sure the pasta cooks evenly without sticking to the bottom.
• Let mushrooms sit in the pan before stirring so they get that nice golden color.
• Use good quality parmesan that will you grate yourself. Not the white dusty shaker-style parmesan we find sometimes in the grocery aisles.
• If you want to lighten up this creamy chicken mushroom pasta recipe, use half and half instead of heavy cream, in the same proportion.

What other types of pasta can we use?

You can use any pasta shape that holds the sauce well. Farfalle and rotini would make great alternatives.

How to make the creamy pasta sauce

Make sure to reduce the heat before adding heavy cream and Parmesan. Heavy cream might curdle when cooked at boiling temperatures, so keep the heat low to prevent this. Once you add the cheese,  stir on low-medium simmer until the cheese is completely incorporated. If the creamy pasta sauce is too runny to your liking, simply add more cheese to thicken up the sauce.

How and how long to store the creamy pasta leftovers?

This creamy chicken mushroom pasta recipe keeps very well in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 days in an airtight container. Reheat the chicken pasta on the stove or in the microwave, adding a tiny splash of water to loosen up the sauce.

More pasta recipes you’ll love

• Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
• 20-Minute Sausage Pasta Skillet
• Parmesan Spinach Mushroom Pasta Skillet
• Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com