Description
This Comforting Crack Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring tender chicken and a luscious sauce made with cream cheese and cheddar. It’s a quick and easy recipe perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 400g (14oz) Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast: diced for even cooking
- 250g (9oz) Short Pasta (Penne or Rotini)
- 240ml (1 cup) Heavy Cream
- 120g (4oz) Cream Cheese: softened for a smooth sauce
- 150g (5.3oz) Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- 60ml (1/4 cup) Chicken Broth
- 30ml (2 Tbsp) Olive Oil: divided for sautéing
- 30g (2 Tbsp) Unsalted Butter: divided for flavor
- 5ml (1 tsp) Garlic Powder
- 5ml (1 tsp) Onion Powder
- 5ml (1 tsp) Smoked Paprika
- 2.5ml (½ tsp) Dried Dill
- 2.5ml (½ tsp) Black Pepper
- 5ml (1 tsp) Salt: adjust to taste
- 30ml (2 Tbsp) Lemon Juice
- 30g (2 Tbsp) Fresh Parsley: chopped
- Optional: 5ml (1 tsp) Almond Flour: to thicken sauce
Instructions
- Season Chicken: Combine chicken with spices.
- Cook Pasta: Boil pasta until al dente, reserve pasta water.
- Sauté Chicken: Cook chicken in olive oil and butter until browned.
- Create Creamy Base: Melt cream cheese in skillet.
- Build Sauce: Add cream, broth, and lemon juice; simmer.
- Melt Cheddar: Stir in cheddar until melted, add pasta water if needed.
- Combine & Coat: Return chicken and pasta to skillet, toss to coat.
- Rest & Season: Let rest, adjust seasoning.
Notes
Reserving pasta water helps create a silky sauce. Feel free to experiment with different cheese types.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg