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Cheesy Chicken Pasta

Cheesy Chicken Pasta

This Cheesy Chicken Pasta is a delightful comfort food loaded with creamy flavors and tender chicken, perfect for busy weeknights.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 690

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 10 ounces penne pasta
Chicken
  • 1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
Dairy
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 cup low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded
  • cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Pantry Staples
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Extra salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Aromatics
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Equipment

  • large pot
  • Large pan
  • whisk

Method
 

Cooking Process
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it generously and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water before draining.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat and melt the butter in it. Add the chicken and cook for 6-7 minutes or until golden on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
  3. In the same pan, add the garlic and cook for one minute on medium heat. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil.
  4. Stir in the flour and whisk continuously until creamy. Next, pour in the half and half and whisk well so there are no lumps. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until thickened slightly.
  5. Add the Italian seasoning, red chili flakes and ground black pepper and stir well to combine.
  6. Stir in the cheddar cheese and whisk well until you have a creamy, thick sauce.
  7. Add the cooked pasta to the pan and toss well to coat in the sauce. Add some of the reserved pasta water if needed to make the sauce silkier.
  8. Return the cooked chicken to the pan and toss well to combine. Stir in the grated Parmesan, then adjust the seasoning to taste and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 690kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 48gFat: 26gSodium: 609mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7g

Notes

Feel free to customize this dish with your favorite pasta and additional vegetables for extra nutrients.

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