🍝 Creamy Chicken Penne Pasta
This is a rich, comforting pasta dish with tender chicken, a silky cream sauce, and perfectly coated penne—simple ingredients, restaurant-style result.
🛒 Ingredients
Chicken:
- 300–400g chicken breast or thighs, sliced Chicken
- Salt & black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika (optional)
- 1 tbsp oil or butter
Pasta:
- 250–300g penne pasta Penne pasta
- Salt (for boiling water)
Creamy sauce:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup cooking cream or heavy cream
- 1/2 cup milk (optional, to loosen sauce)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian herbs or oregano
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
- Salt & black pepper to taste
Optional add-ins:
- Mushrooms, spinach, or broccoli
- Fresh parsley for garnish
🔥 Step 1: Cook the pasta
- Boil salted water.
- Cook penne until al dente.
- Save 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
🍗 Step 2: Cook the chicken
- Heat oil or butter in a pan.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Cook until golden and fully cooked through.
- Remove and set aside.
🧄 Step 3: Make the creamy base
- In the same pan, melt butter.
- Add garlic and sauté until fragrant.
- Add cream and milk, stirring gently.
- Add herbs, chili flakes, salt, and pepper.
🧀 Step 4: Build the sauce
- Stir in parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Let it simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thick.
🍝 Step 5: Combine everything
- Add cooked chicken back into the sauce.
- Toss in penne pasta.
- Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed for a silky texture.
- Mix until everything is well coated.
🍽️ Step 6: Serve
- Top with extra parmesan and parsley.
- Optional: sprinkle chili flakes for heat.
😋 Result
You get:
- Juicy, seasoned chicken
- Creamy, cheesy garlic sauce
- Pasta that clings perfectly to every bite
If you want, I can also make:
- Spicy Cajun creamy penne 🌶️
- White wine garlic cream version
- Or a 20-minute one-pan shortcut recipe
