Description
A creamy, cheesy chicken pasta made with mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan in a garlic white sauce. Comforting, hearty, and customizable with spinach, bacon, or mushrooms.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Pasta:
- 12 oz penne or rigatoni
- Salt, for pasta water
For the Sauce:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
Optional Add-ins:
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- ½ cup cooked bacon bits
- 1 cup sautéed mushrooms
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: Season chicken with paprika, salt, and pepper. Sear in olive oil until golden and cooked through. Let rest, then slice or shred.
- Cook the Pasta: Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: Melt butter in saucepan. Sauté garlic. Stir in flour to form roux. Slowly whisk in milk and broth. Add mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan; stir until melted. Season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes.
- Combine Everything: Stir pasta and chicken into sauce. Add spinach, bacon, or mushrooms if using. Thin sauce with pasta water if needed.
- Serve: Garnish with extra Parmesan and parsley. Serve hot.
Notes
For a baked version, transfer to a casserole dish, top with extra cheese, and bake at 375°F for 15 minutes until bubbly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Keywords: cheesy chicken pasta, garlic cream sauce pasta, chicken and pasta dinner, stovetop chicken pasta