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Creamy, cheesy, and ready in 30 minutes, this classic chicken penne pasta is the ultimate weeknight comfort food.
Chicken + pasta = win
Not sure about you, but we love pasta for dinner! This creamy chicken penne pasta is an easy crowd-pleaser that the entire family will love. Rich and creamy, it’s the perfect base for a weeknight meal.
Serve alongside Oven Roasted Vegetables and Cheesy Garlic Bread for a kid-approved dinner. We know they will love it!
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Quick & easy. This easy pasta recipe comes together in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Ultra creamy. The combination of butter, half and half, and parmesan cheese creates a luxuriously creamy sauce that coats the pasta and chicken perfectly.
- Family-friendly. This penne pasta recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser that appeals to both adults and kids, making it a great choice for a family dinner idea.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 20 minutes
- 1 pound penne pasta – or ziti, bow tie, fusilli
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic – How to Mince Garlic
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed – you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth – or chicken stock
- 1 cup half and half – Using half and half or whole milk makes a creamier sauce but 2% will work
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- garlic salt and black pepper – to taste
How to make chicken penne pasta
- PASTA. Cook 1 pound penne pasta according to packaged directions.
- CHICKEN. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan, add 3 cubed chicken breasts, and cook until cooked through.
- SAUCE. Add 2 teaspoons garlic and cook for 1 minute over medium heat. Add 3 tablespoons flour and cook for an additional minute, stir constantly.
- Add 1 cup half and half and 1 cup chicken broth, stirring constantly. Cook until sauce boils and thickens.
- Add 1 teaspoon basil and 1 cup grated parmesan cheese. Add desired garlic salt and pepper. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted. Pour sauce over pasta and serve immediately.
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Chicken Penne Pasta
Creamy, cheesy, and ready in 30 minutes, this classic chicken penne pasta is the ultimate weeknight comfort food.
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 3 chicken breasts, cubed
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- garlic salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to packaged directions.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan and add chicken. Cook until cooked through.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute over medium heat. Add flour and cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly.
- Add milk and broth, stirring constantly. Cook until sauce boils and thickens.
- Add parsley and parmesan cheese. Add desired salt and pepper. Continue stirring until cheese has melted. Serve immediately.
- Pour sauce over pasta and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 618kcal, Carbohydrates: 62g, Protein: 42g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 122mg, Sodium: 617mg, Potassium: 702mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 556IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 256mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Add Extra Flavor?
- Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for added spice or a drizzle of hot sauce.
- Add spinach or kale.
- Add some sun-dried tomatoes.
- Add broccoli florets, sauteed green beans, or mushrooms.
- Top with bacon crumbles.
- Use shrimp instead of chicken.
Does Chicken Penne Pasta Make a Good Freezer Meal?
- Pasta is among my favorite freezer meals. I typically like to double a recipe and then freeze the extra for another day. Cook according to the recipe. Cool slightly then place in a freezer Ziploc. The pasta can be kept in the freezer for 3-4 months.
- Thaw and then reheat on the stovetop. Heat it low and slow and add a bit of milk to help revive the creamy smooth texture.
How to Store Leftover Chicken Penne Pasta?
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3-4 months.
- Reheat on the stovetop or microwave. Add a bit of milk to help get a smooth texture.
Does anyone have the creamy garlic penne pasta recipe? I’m not sure why this is a different recipe then what I clicked on.
Here you go!! 🙂 https://lilluna.com/creamy-garlic-penne-pasta/
OMG!!! So easy and so good. There were no leftovers.
We tried this with the mini-penne and my kids destroyed it! So much easier for them to eat than the messy fettuccine haha!
All of my girls LOVED this recipe. When I find a recipe they all like it’s a keeper! I usually double the recipe and freeze half. I found that it reheats really well on the stove top with a bit of extra milk.
Thanks a lot for this amazing and super easy to make chicken penne pasta recipe! It’s really tasty and very flavorful! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended
This recipe is always a welcome sight. My kids absolutely love this meal! So filling too.
There’s really nothing that we don’t like about pasta. It’s creamy, easy to make and full of chicken. Yummy!
This is one of my go-to weeknight meals! It’s easy to make, creamy, & tasty! It’s a kid approved meal!
The picture doesn’t match the recipe.
This used to be the link to your mozzarella penne recipe. I made it quite a few times, but don’t have it memorized just yet. My family is asking for it again and I can’t find your recipe.
Hi Sara! That may have been one of our recipes that has been removed. We have been cleaning up our site and updating posts, and that may be one that is gone. Or may have been updated to this recipe. Here are a few other links/options: this one is a round-up of penne pasta recipes, so possibly the one you are thinking of is here: https://lilluna.com/penne-pasta-recipes/. We also have a Chicken Tetrazzini recipe https://lilluna.com/chicken-tetrazzini/ that has mozzarella. We also have a yummy Three Cheese Pasta Bake (Baked Mac and Cheese) https://lilluna.com/baked-macaroni-and-cheese/ which might be close too? Hopefully some of these help!