Description
Hearty white cheddar chicken pasta delivers comfort with rich, cheesy goodness. Creamy sauce and tender chicken create a satisfying meal perfect for family dinners you’ll want to savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, fusilli, or your choice)
- 2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
Sauce Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasoning and Garnish:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water at medium-high heat until perfectly tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Thoroughly drain and reserve.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature. Carefully sear chicken pieces, seasoning with aromatic spices until golden brown and fully cooked, roughly 7 minutes per side.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a separate plate, maintaining skillet’s residual heat and flavors.
- Introduce minced garlic into the skillet, gently sautéing until releasing its fragrant essence, about 45-60 seconds.
- Stream heavy cream into the skillet, whisking continuously to create a smooth, velvety base. Allow mixture to softly bubble and slightly condense for 3-4 minutes.
- Reduce heat to lowest setting, gradually incorporating white cheddar cheese while stirring consistently until sauce transforms into a luxurious, glossy consistency.
- Enhance sauce with Italian herbs, carefully balancing salt and pepper to elevate overall flavor profile.
- Reintroduce chicken and pasta into the creamy sauce, meticulously coating each element for maximum taste distribution.
- Let mixture gently simmer for an additional 2 minutes, allowing ingredients to harmonize.
- Finish by sprinkling freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately while temperature and texture remain optimal.
Notes
- Opt for high-quality white cheddar cheese to enhance the sauce’s rich, creamy texture and depth of flavor.
- Choose chicken breasts with consistent thickness to ensure even cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
- Control sauce consistency by adjusting cream amount – less cream creates thicker sauce, more cream makes it lighter and more pourable.
- Customize recipe for dietary needs by substituting dairy-free cheese alternatives and using gluten-free pasta for accommodating restrictions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 690 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg