Weeknight • Pasta
Creamy Chicken and Pea Pasta
A comforting and quick pasta dish featuring tender chicken, sweet peas, and a velvety Parmesan cream sauce.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Level
- Weeknight
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Craving something cozy and satisfying but short on time? This Creamy Chicken and Pea Pasta is your new go-to! It's rich, flavorful, and incredibly easy to whip up, making it perfect for a busy weeknight. The tender chicken and vibrant peas are enveloped in a luscious, cheesy sauce that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Yield: 4 servings
Main
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or farfalle work well)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 tsp salt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1 cup frozen peas
Preparation
Step 1
Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining. Set aside.
Step 2
While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add chicken to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Step 3
Add chopped onion to the same skillet and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Step 4
Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer.
Step 5
Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Cook, stirring, until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened slightly, about 2-3 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
Step 6
Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the cooked pasta and frozen peas. Stir everything together until the pasta is well coated and the peas are heated through.
Step 7
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately, topped with extra grated Parmesan cheese.
Tips
- Stir in a handful of fresh spinach at the end for an extra boost of greens.
- Leftovers reheat beautifully; you might need to add a splash of milk or broth to loosen the sauce.
- Any short pasta shape will work well here, so use what you have on hand!
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