Creamy Chicken Pasta

Creamy Chicken Pasta! Looking for an easy recipe to make on a busy weeknight? Look no further. If you’re hungry and want to indulge in a meal that is delicious and easy to make, then you’re going to love this recipe.

This creamy chicken pasta recipe is not your usual; it’s so much more flavorful. We’ve used two exciting herbs to add a new dimension to the recipe. Enter fresh basil and fresh fenugreek, which are incredible when paired with chicken breast. Chicken breast is one of the most preferred proteins in many households. Finding new ways to enjoy Chicken breast is crucial to ensure your meals are exciting and invigorating.

Ingredients used to Make Creamy Chicken Pasta

Chicken breast, tagliatelle, cooking cream, garlic, onion, tomato paste, fresh parsley, salt, ground black pepper, dried oregano, paprika powder, olive oil, black olives, sun dried tomatoes, fresh fenugreek, fresh basil, ground nutmeg and pasta water.

What does Creamy Chicken Pasta taste like?

Creamy chicken pasta has a rich and hearty flavour. The balanced complexity of this delicious dish comes from ingredients such as garlic, onion, herbs, and spices like oregano, basil, parsley, fenugreek, and paprika powder. The cooking cream adds creaminess, and the tomato paste adds a tangy taste to this dish. Tagliatelle absorbs the creamy sauce and makes every bite both fulfilling and satisfying.

Instructions

Prepare the ingredients: Rinse the chicken breasts and cut them into half-inch cubes. Clean the garlic cloves and slice the onion. Chop up the fresh fenugreek, basil, and parsley. Collect the spices like ground black pepper, dried oregano, ground nutmeg, and chili powder into a little bowl.

Cook the chicken with aromatics and spices: Add olive oil to a grill pan and sauté the aromatics, such as garlic and onion, for two minutes on medium-low heat. Then, add the chicken and spices, such as ground black pepper, dried oregano, ground nutmeg, and paprika powder. Stir to mix the ingredients and cook the chicken for eight to ten minutes on medium-low heat. 

Cook the pasta: Prepare a pot and add two liters of water. Bring the water to a boil, add a pinch of salt, and cook the Tagliatelle al dente according to the instructions on the pasta packet. Make sure to save 1/4 cup of pasta water.

Cook the creamy sauce: Add the chopped fresh herbs, such as fenugreek, basil, and parsley. Also, add the tomato paste and stir to mix. Add the cooking cream and cook the chicken in the creamy sauce for five minutes. 

Add pasta water: Add three tablespoons of pasta water and cook for two minutes while stirring. This step thickens the sauce and makes it smooth and silky.

Transfer the pasta and toss to coat: Add the cooked Tagliatelle pasta and toss to coat the pasta. Adjust the temperature to low and cook the pasta for two additional minutes whilst tossing. Be gentle while mixing the pasta and the sauce to avoid breaking the pasta. Serve immediately. 

Expert tips

Use pasta with a large surface area to absorb the creamy sauce, such as Tagliatelle, fettuccine, penne, or rigatoni. Cook the pasta al dente, as it will continue to cook for two more minutes in the creamy sauce. Adding pasta water to the sauce will ensure that it becomes thick and creamy. 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 flavor. Adding butter or parmesan cheese increases the creaminess and gives the creamy chicken pasta a velvety finish.

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 Caesar salad, Caprese salad, or mixed Green salad, as they will also match the flavor of creamy chicken pasta well. Garlic bread is also another great option.

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.

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, cornstarch, 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 flavor.

What makes the Creamy Chicken Pasta creamier?

Using heavy cream, cooking 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 fat option for the heavy cream, use 100 ml of cream and 50 ml of milk to make the sauce, which is also a good choice for the 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.

Expert Tips

Using heavy or cooking cream helps keep the pasta thick and creamy. Avoid overcooking the pasta; it will release too much starch, making the overall dish sludgy and less smooth. 

Reserve pasta water to cook the sauce. This method further thickens the sauce, making the pasta smooth and extra creamy. Make sure to slow-cook the sauce and simmer it on low heat, which prevents the sauce from separating and curdling. Add cheese or butter to enhance the sauce’s creaminess and increase the dish’s depth.  Avoid adding too much liquid to cook the sauce in one go. If the sauce is dry or too thick, gradually add the liquid. Make sure to serve immediately before the sauce begins to cool down.