Description
A quick and delicious one-pot cheesy chicken pasta recipe that combines tender chicken, creamy cheese, and flavorful pasta, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb or 450 g), diced
- 8 oz (225 g) penne pasta
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, cubed
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups (950 ml) chicken broth
- 1 can (14.5 oz or 410 g) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 cups (60 g) fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Dice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and cook the chicken until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Add minced garlic to the pot and sauté for 30 seconds. If using optional vegetables, add them now and sauté until softened.
- Pour in chicken broth and add undrained diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then add penne pasta and Italian seasoning. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in cream cheese until melted, then return the cooked chicken and add chopped spinach. Stir until spinach wilts.
- Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken to prevent it from becoming dry.
- Stir the pasta occasionally while cooking to prevent sticking.
- Use enough liquid to ensure proper cooking of the pasta.
- Feel free to customize with additional vegetables or proteins.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: one-pot, cheesy, chicken, pasta, quick meal, family dinner