Description
Cheesy Chicken Pasta is the ultimate comfort food, featuring creamy, cheesy sauce and tender chicken, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250g uncooked pasta (around 8oz)
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 275g chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces (around 9.6 oz)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust per taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon chili sauce or sriracha
- 130ml milk (1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon)
- 110ml double cream (1/4 cup + 3 tablespoons)
- 100g mozzarella cheese + extra to sprinkle on top (1 cup + extra)
- 100–120ml reserved pasta water (around 1/2 cup)
Instructions
- Begin by boiling the pasta in salted water and a splash of oil until al dente. Reserve some pasta water for later, and then drain.
- In a large pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until it turns light golden.
- Toss in the chicken pieces and cook for about 3–4 minutes until no longer pink.
- Season the chicken with salt, black pepper, red chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and oregano. Stir to combine.
- Mix in the tomato paste and a splash of sriracha, then cook for another minute.
- Add the milk and double cream. Let it simmer over medium-high heat until the sauce is bubbling and begins to thicken.
- Stir in the mozzarella cheese, mixing until melted and smooth.
- Gradually add reserved pasta water until you reach your desired sauce consistency.
- Bring the sauce to a boil while stirring continuously, then add the cooked pasta. Toss until everything is well combined and heated through.
- Serve hot, garnishing with an extra sprinkle of cheese.
Notes
For best results, use day-old pasta for added texture. Feel free to mix up your cheeses or add vegetables like spinach for extra nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling & Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: Cheesy Chicken Pasta, Comfort Food, Quick Dinner, Family Meal