Not sure about you, but we love pasta for dinner! In fact, we love it so much that we usually have it every Tuesday.
Today’s creamy chicken penne pasta is a family favorite and an easy crowd-pleaser that your family will love as well. Rich and creamy, it’s the perfect base for a weeknight meal, and best of all, it’s quick to make and ready in 30 minutes!
It’s classic comfort food, but with a light, family-friendly twist—rich sauce without being too heavy, plus room to sneak in veggies or extra flavor. Serve alongside Oven Roasted Vegetables and Cheesy Garlic Bread for a kid-approved dinner. We know they will love it!
If you like this one, you might also love Lemon Chicken Pasta, Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta, and Triple Cheddar Chicken Pasta.
Why we think you’ll 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.
Chicken Penne Pasta Ingredients
- Penne pasta (1 pound) – The base that holds the creamy sauce; you can also swap in ziti, bow tie, or fusilli. You may also use ziti, bow tie, or fusilli.
- Unsalted butter (4 tablespoons) – Added for flavor and a base fat to cook the chicken and build the sauce.
- Minced garlic (2 teaspoons) – Adds warm, aromatic punch without being overpowering. See How to Mince Garlic for tips.
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts (3 breasts), cubed – A lean protein; cubed for quick, even cooking. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- All-purpose flour (3 tablespoons) – Thickens the sauce so it clings to pasta instead of running off.
- Chicken broth (1 cup) – Gives savory depth and balances richness. You can also use or chicken stock.
- Half and half (1 cup) – Using half and half or whole milk creates a creamier sauce, but 2% will work.
- Basil (1 teaspoon) – An herbal note to round out the flavors.
- Grated Parmesan cheese (1 cup) – Gives salty, nutty creaminess and helps thicken the sauce as it melts.
- Garlic salt and black pepper (to taste) – Fine-tunes the flavor and ensures it’s well-seasoned at the end.
How to Make Chicken Penne Pasta
PASTA. Cook penne pasta according to the package directions.
CHICKEN. Melt butter in a medium saucepan, add cubed chicken breasts, and cook until cooked through.
ROUX. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute over medium heat. Add flour and cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly.
THICKEN. Add half and half and chicken broth, stirring constantly. Cook until the sauce boils and thickens.
SEASON & SERVE. Add basil and grated parmesan cheese. Add desired garlic salt and pepper to taste. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted. Pour sauce over pasta and serve immediately.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Add cream and broth gradually & stir continuously over medium heat to avoid lumps and ensure a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Some delicious additions can include red pepper flakes, sauteed spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli florets, or crumbled bacon.
- Other similarly sized pastas can be used, such as ziti, bow tie, and fusilli. It also tastes great using gluten-free pasta.
- I like to double the recipe so I have enough to freeze for another meal.
Chicken Penne Pasta Recipe
Video
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 basil and parmesan cheese. Add desired salt and pepper. Continue stirring until cheese has melted. Serve immediately.
- Pour sauce over pasta and serve.
Notes
- Add cream and broth gradually & stir continuously over medium heat to avoid lumps and ensure a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Some delicious additions can include red pepper flakes, sauteed spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli florets, or crumbled bacon.
- Other similarly sized pastas can be used, such as ziti, bow tie, and fusilli. It also tastes great using gluten-free pasta.
- I like to double the recipe so I have enough to freeze for another meal.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
To freeze pasta meals, cook the recipe as directed and let it cool slightly. Store it in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag for up to 3-4 months. To reheat, thaw the pasta, then warm it on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of milk to restore its creamy texture.
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.
Complete The Meal
Side Dishes
Garlic Bread Recipe
20 mins
Oven Roasted Vegetables
35 mins
Cheesy Garlic Bread
20 mins
Arugula Salad
10 mins
Desserts
Lemon Raspberry Cake
1 hr 38 mins
Triple Berry Pie
1 hr 30 mins
Chocolate Mousse
2 hrs 20 mins
Flourless Chocolate Cake
2 hrs 35 mins
More Pasta Dishes
Lemon Asparagus Pasta
25 mins
Italian Sausage Pasta
20 mins
Chicken Alfredo Bake
1 hr 5 mins
Chicken Tetrazzini
55 mins
Collections
This recipe was originally published March 2014.
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!