Creamy Chicken Pasta

When it comes to Creamy Chicken pasta, this recipe hits the mark. Think penne pasta with creamy flavours, a bit of tomato paste, and sun-dried tomatoes, and you have an incredible dish. In this recipe, we are sharing our top method for cooking tender, moist chicken breast.

This creamy chicken pasta recipe is not your usual; it’s so much more flavourful. Not surprisingly, chicken breast is one of the most preferred proteins in most households. Finding new ways to enjoy Chicken breast is crucial to ensure your meals are exciting and invigorating.

Ingredients

Chicken breast, Garlic Cloves, Onion, Tomato Paste, Fresh Cream, Penne Pasta, Balsamic Vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Paprika powder, and Butter.

Chicken breast complements this recipe well; you can also use deboned chicken thighs. Garlic cloves and onion add a subtle sweetness to this dish. Tomato paste adds a concentrated tomato flavour.

Penne pasta works well with the cubed chicken breast; however, you can use whatever pasta you have on hand. You can use fresh cream or heavy cream. Fresh cream is slightly thinner and lower in fat than heavy cream. Balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce brighten the flavours of the creamy chicken pasta.

Paprika powder adds a touch of heat. Butter adds flavour to the chicken. Use salted butter; if using unsalted butter in the shallow-poaching step, add a little butter and a pinch of white pepper.

Instructions

Rinse the chicken breasts and cut them into half-inch cubes. Add 1 inch of water to a pot with butter and shallow-poach for 5 minutes. This step will ensure that the chicken breast is tender and soft. The chicken breast is cooked when it turns from pink to white. If using the shallow poaching method, reserve some of the chicken’s liquid that remains in the pot.

Add butter to a grill pan and grill for 6 to 8 minutes, until golden brown. You can skip the shallow poaching step if you just want a quick meal.

Clean the garlic cloves, then slice and cube the onions. Add the aromatics to the pot that has the reserved chicken liquid, which will still have a bit of butter in it. Sauté the onion and garlic until they are golden brown. Add the tomato paste. (Start cooking the pasta at this point; it should take 8 minutes for the pasta to be al dente. Reserve pasta water for the final step.)

Add the Worcestershire sauce, Balsamic vinegar, and paprika powder. Mix the ingredients. Add about three tablespoons of water into the pot, then add the cream.

Mix well, then simmer for 2 minutes. Add the chicken breasts. Mix again. Add the pasta with three tablespoons of pasta water. This will loosen up the sauce and give it a smooth texture.

Slice the sun-dried tomatoes and finely chop parsley. Grate parmesan cheese and add it to the pasta. Garnish and serve.

That is it, the dish is ready to enjoy and serve to your loved ones. This creamy chicken pasta is one of the easiest and most delicious recipes to enjoy on busy weekends or weeknights.

If you want chicken breast often, you can shallow-poach a large batch and store it in the fridge to eat with a range of different chicken pasta recipes throughout the week.

What to Serve with Creamy Chicken Pasta?

There are many options for enjoying creamy chicken pasta, such as roasted vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, and zucchini. Salads also pair well with this pasta dish. Consider a vegetarian Caesar salad, a Caprese salad, or a mixed Rocket and red pepper salad, as they will also match the flavour of creamy chicken pasta well. Garlic bread is will also pair well with this pasta recipe.

How to Store and Reheat Creamy Chicken Pasta?

Cool down the creamy chicken pasta before storing it in the fridge. Store the food in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. Store in a freezer-proof container or zip-lock packet for up to 2 to 3 months. Keep in mind that the creamy sauce can separate when frozen, and the sauce may not be as smooth as the original texture when reheated.

To reheat the refrigerated creamy chicken pasta, use the stovetop; this would be the best method to preserve the authentic taste. Place the pasta in a pan and reheat it on medium-low heat. Add a tablespoon of milk to prevent the sauce from drying out. Stir gently to heat the food evenly. Use the microwave to reheat the refrigerated pasta, add one tablespoon of milk, and toss to coat the pasta before reheating. About 2 minutes on medium temperature should suffice to reheat the pasta. If the pasta is not thoroughly heated, toss the pasta around and reheat for another 1 minute.

Some water will be released while reheating the frozen creamy chicken pasta. It would be best to reheat it in a pan on medium-low heat and follow the same instructions as for the refrigerated pasta, but reheat until the water has evaporated.

Expert tips

We prefer to use penne pasta. However, you can use other pastas such as Tagliatelle, fettuccine, or rigatoni. Cook the pasta just shy of one minute, as it will continue to cook for two more minutes in the creamy sauce. Adding pasta water to the sauce will make it glossy and smooth. Pasta water also acts as a binding agent, making the sauce cling to the pasta. This step makes every bite of the pasta flavourful and delicious. 

The best option for this recipe is boneless and skinless chicken breast. However, chicken thighs also work. Searing the chicken before adding the sauce will enhance the overall flavour. Adding butter or parmesan cheese increases the creaminess and gives the creamy chicken pasta a velvety finish.

Can you use Milk instead of Cream in pasta?

You can use milk instead of cream to make the creamy chicken pasta, but there are things to consider. The sauce’s texture and richness will be lighter than using cream, as cream contains a higher fat content. However, you can make the sauce thicker by combining milk with roux, flour, butter, corn-starch, and a cold water mixture. 

The subtle sweetness and richness of the cream make the sauce more indulgent than milk. If you use milk to make the creamy chicken pasta, add butter or Parmesan cheese to intensify the creaminess and flavour.

What makes the Creamy Chicken Pasta creamier?

Using heavy cream, fresh cream, or whipping cream will make the creamy chicken pasta creamier. This is due to the high-fat content, around 36-40%, which makes the sauce richer and smoother. If you want a less fatty option for heavy cream, use 100 ml of cream and 50 ml of milk to make the sauce; it is also a good choice for a light, creamy sauce. 

Using butter is also a great option to make the sauce silky and smooth without compromising the flavour of the dish. Use unsalted butter to control the salt content of the dish. Use cheese to adjust the creaminess of the dish, which is also a great method to enrich the flavour.

You can use Parmesan, mozzarella, or cream cheese to thicken and cream the sauce. Mascarpone cheese can also thicken the sauce and add an additional layer of tanginess. Starchy pasta water can be added to thicken the sauce without increasing the fat content. Make sure to save some pasta water before draining it.

Avoid overcooking the pasta; it will release too much starch, making the overall dish sludgy and less smooth. Make sure to slow-cook the sauce and simmer it on low heat to prevent it from separating and curdling. Add cheese or butter to enhance the sauce’s creaminess and add depth to the dish.  Avoid adding too much liquid at once to cook the sauce. If the sauce is dry or too thick, gradually add more liquid. Make sure to serve immediately before the sauce begins to cool down.