Description
Hearty “Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Pasta” delivers comfort in every forkful, blending tender chicken and earthy mushrooms with silky sauce. Savory Italian-inspired ingredients promise a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 chicken breasts, cubed
Starches:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (spaghetti or linguine)
Dairy and Sauce Components:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Oils and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Fresh thyme
Instructions
- Prepare seasoned chicken cubes with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet at medium temperature and cook chicken for 7-8 minutes until golden brown and thoroughly cooked. Transfer chicken to a separate plate.
- Use the same skillet to sauté minced garlic and sliced mushrooms for 4-5 minutes. Watch for mushrooms to soften and release moisture while garlic turns slightly golden.
- Pour chicken broth into the skillet and simmer for 2 minutes to reduce liquid. Introduce heavy cream and bring to a gentle boil. Incorporate Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and sauce thickens.
- Simultaneously cook pasta in boiling water according to package instructions. Drain pasta, reserving a small amount of cooking water for potential sauce adjustment.
- Combine cooked chicken and pasta into the creamy mushroom sauce. Gently mix to ensure even coating. If sauce appears too thick, incorporate reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
- Enhance flavor by sprinkling fresh thyme, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Plate immediately and optionally garnish with additional Parmesan cheese for extra richness.
Notes
- Ensure chicken is cut into uniform cubes for even cooking and tender texture.
- Pat chicken dry before seasoning to achieve better browning and deeper flavor development.
- Use fresh mushrooms for more robust taste and avoid watery consistency during sautéing.
- Select hard, aged Parmesan cheese for richer, more intense sauce flavor profile.
- Keep pasta water as secret weapon to adjust sauce consistency and help sauce cling better to noodles.
- Quick-cooking technique prevents cream sauce from breaking or becoming grainy.
- For lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt.
- Gluten-free alternative: Replace regular pasta with zucchini noodles or chickpea pasta.
- Add red pepper flakes for subtle heat and extra complexity to the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 760 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 26 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg