One Pan Creamy Chicken Pasta (Print Version)
Comforting pasta with tender chicken and vegetables in a luscious creamy sauce, all cooked together in one pan.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 tsp salt
03 - ½ tsp black pepper
04 - 1 tsp 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 tbsp olive oil
14 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
15 - Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
# Preparation Steps:
01 - Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, coating evenly.
02 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until lightly browned and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove and set aside.
03 - In the same pan, add onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Stir in red bell pepper and cook for another 2 minutes to soften slightly.
05 - Add uncooked pasta to the pan, followed by chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir to combine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom.
06 - Bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
07 - Return chicken to the pan, add spinach, and stir in Parmesan cheese. Cook for 2-3 minutes until spinach wilts and sauce thickens. Adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, garnished with parsley.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pan so you spend less time cleaning and more time eating
- The sauce thickens naturally as the pasta cooks, creating restaurant-quality creaminess without any fancy techniques
- Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day, if there are any
02 -
- The sauce continues thickening off the heat, so don't panic if it looks slightly thinner than you want when you turn off the stove
- Different pasta shapes absorb liquid at different rates, so check for doneness a minute early if you're using something smaller than penne
03 -
- Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly, so take it out of the fridge 15 minutes before you start cooking
- Grate your own Parmesan instead of buying pre-shredded cheese for smoother melting and better flavor