Penne Pasta Recipe

Chicken penne pasta is a quick and easy dinner that is delicious, creamy, and flavorful. Perfectly seared chicken is sliced and tossed into a creamy white sauce that with penne pasta in under 30 minutes. This creamy chicken pasta is a simple and classic Italian dinner idea and family favorite, and leftovers are great for lunch the next day.

To make this delicious Chicken Penne Pasta, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in recipe card below):

You can also add your favorite vegetables to this chicken penne pasta for added nutrition. After everything is cooked, you can toss in:

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, cooking pot, and a skillet (I used a cast-iron skillet).

Serve chicken penne pasta with some bread for soaking up any extra sauce and some light side dishes to balance it out.

penne pasta recipe

Chicken Penne Pasta

penne pasta recipe

Chicken penne pasta is a quick and easy dinner that is delicious, rich, creamy, and flavorful. It’s a family favorite that’s ready in under 30 minutes.

Prep: 5min

Total: 25min

Yield: 4

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 serving, calories 567 calories, Sugar 2.6 g, Sodium 700.6 mg, Fat 25.4 g, Saturated Fat 12.6 g, Trans Fat 0.4 g, Carbohydrate 46.6 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 36.4 g, Cholesterol 136.1 mg

Ingredients:

  • 2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 pound penne pasta (2 cups)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth (or reserved hot pasta water)
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instruction:

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add penne pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the hot pasta water in a bowl (if using instead of chicken stock). Drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. Use a paper towel to pat the chicken breasts completely dry. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles, about 1-2 minutes. Add chicken and sear until golden brown, 6-8 minutes per side. Slice the chicken into 1/2-inch strips, transfer onto a plate, and cover with aluminium foil to stay moist.
  4. In the same skillet, add butter and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add flour and cook until thickened into a paste, about 1 minute.
  5. Add heavy cream, chicken broth (or reserved hot pasta water), and Parmesan cheese. Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes until thickened to a desired consistency, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Add the chicken and pasta to the skillet and toss well to coat. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta

penne pasta recipe

This is a delicious, super quick side or main dish. I got it from the back of a pasta box and it is yummy!

Prep: 10min

Total: 15min

Yield: 6-8 serving(s)

Nutrition Facts: calories 363.8, Fat 8.3, Saturated Fat 4.4, Cholesterol 19.3, Sodium 230.2, Carbohydrate 64.1, Fiber 8.5, Sugar 0.2, Protein 9.8

Ingredients:

  • 1 (1 lb) box penne or 1 (1 lb) box penne rigate, cooked as directed, drained and kept hot
  • 2 tablespoons butter or 2 tablespoons margarine
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth or 3/4 cup beef broth
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons parsley flakes
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instruction:

  1. Melt butter and add garlic in a medium sauce pan.
  2. Cook over medium for 1 minute.
  3. Add flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  4. Stir in broth and milk and cook, stirring frequently, until sauce boils and thickens.
  5. Add parsley, salt, pepper and cheese.
  6. Stir until cheese is melted.
  7. Toss hot pasta with sauce and serve immediately.

Easy Chicken Penne Pasta

penne pasta recipe

Easy Chicken Penne Pasta is a one pot meal that’s done in under 30 minutes! This easy skillet recipe is picky eater approved!

Prep: 5min

Total: 30min

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 serving, calories 457 kcal, Carbohydrate 52 g, Protein 32 g, Fat 12 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 67 mg, Sodium 991 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 7 g

Ingredients:

  • 12 ounces penne pasta
  • 24 ounce jar pasta sauce (use your favorite)
  • 4 cloves garlic (pressed)
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
  • 2 cups cooked chicken (diced or shredded)
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Instruction:

  1. Boil water in pot or large skillet and cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  2. Add pasta sauce, pressed garlic, pepper flakes and cottage cheese to skillet and heat until bubbly and hot. Add the chicken and cook until the chicken is heated through. Stir in the pasta and mozzarella cheese. Taste for seasoning, add salt and/or pepper as needed.
  3. Serve hot with parmesan cheese.

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FAQ

What sauce goes best with penne?

Tubular shapes like penne and ziti are perfect with hearty, thick sauces like ragu. Rigate, the ridged ones, capture even more sauce. Wide, flat pastas like pappardelle are ideal for sopping up creamy sauces.

What is the best way to cook penne pasta?

Penne is a good choice for baked pasta dishes, it holds up well in the oven and is the perfectly sized mouthful. Try using this pasta in a carbonara pasta bake with meat and vegetables. Rigatoni is a large tube noodle that is wider than penne and cut short and straight. It has ridges along its length.

What is penne best for?

Classic spices to add to a plain tomato sauce include Italian seasoning, garlic (fresh or powder), onion powder, basil, salt and pepper. You can also add a little bit of chili or cayenne powder for some heat.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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