indulge in a bowl of pure comfort with this cheesy chicken pasta. perfectly cooked pasta shells and tender chicken pieces are tossed in a velvety tomato cream sauce and melty cheese. perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner or a relaxed, lazy lunch. make sure to serve this pasta hot, garnished with a sprinkle of parsley for a pop of colour.
why you will love this cheesy chicken pasta recipe:
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easy to make: this cheesy chicken pasta uses simple ingredients that are readily available and is easy to whip up in no time. great for busy nights or just when you feel like a comforting meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
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customisable – you can easily customise this cheesy chicken pasta to suit your preferences. switch up the pasta shape, add a blend of different cheeses or skip the chicken or swap it for vegetables for a vegetarian-friendly meal.
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easy to store and reheat leftovers – while this cheesy chicken pasta was gone from my table in minutes, in the event of leftovers, you can easily store them in the fridge and reheat for lunch or dinner the next day. simply, reheat on the stove over low-medium heat and add a splash of milk or cream to keep the sauce rich and creamy.
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indulgent but balanced – while this pasta is cheesy and creamy, and one of my favourite comfort foods, the tang from the tomato sauce adds a freshness that keeps the pasta from feeling too heavy. you could even add some extra veggies or pair this with a side salad to make it a balanced meal.
how to make this cheesy chicken pasta:
to make this cheesy chicken pasta, we’re going to start off by boiling pasta shells until perfectly cooked. then, we’ll cook our chicken and make a delicious tomato cream sauce. add the pasta, add a final layer of cheese on top until bubbling and melty, then finish off with a sprinkle of parsley.
cheesy chicken pasta ingredients:
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pasta shells – you can use any other shape of pasta that you prefer. boil with salt, water and a bit of oil in the pot.
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oil – we’ll adding oil to the pan first to cook our garlic in. i usually use a neutral tasting oil but if you can also use olive oil in this recipe if you like.
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garlic – i’m using fresh garlic that’s been finely minced for this recipe.
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chicken – i like to use boneless chicken breast, cut into small pieces.
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seasonings – i use a mix of garlic powder, red chilli powder, black pepper, salt, onion powder, paprika and oregano in this cheesy chicken pasta.
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tomato paste – adds colour and a nice, bold flavour to the sauce.
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sriracha – optional but adds a nice hint of spice.
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milk- this will be the base of our tomato cream sauce, so that it has a bit of lightness to it.
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double cream/heavy cream – any kind of thick cream will work here. i like to use a mix of cream and milk so that the sauce is not overly rich and heavy.
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cheese – i used mozzarella but you can use your choice of cheese or even a blend of cheeses in the sauce. add a final sprinkle of it on top for extra cheesiness.
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pasta water – save at least 1 cup of pasta water when draining your pasta. we’ll use this in our sauce to bulk it up and add some extra flavour.
step by step instructions
for full measurements, keep scrolling down to the recipe below.
step one: boil your pasta in water with some salt and little bit of oil. once the pasta is cooked, it should be firm with a little bit of bite to it, and not overly soft. drain the pasta and set it aside. be sure to save some of the leftover pasta water to add to the sauce.
step two: in a pan, heat up some oil, then add fresh garlic. cook the garlic in the oil until it becomes a light golden colour.
step three: add the chicken pieces, and cook these in the oil until they start to change colour. they should look almost white.