Creamy Chicken Pasta

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Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Total Time25

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: Creamy Chicken Pasta

Servings:

Calories: 476kcal

Author: thetastejournal.com

Ingredients

400 gram Chicken breasts
300 gram Penne Pasta
150 ml Fresh cream
4 tbsp Butter

Aromatics

7 Garlic cloves - Sliced
½ Onion – Sliced

Spices

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
¼ tsp Paprika powder

Garnish

Parsley – Garnish
3 Tbsp Sundried Tomatoes - Sliced

Instructions

Shallow Poach the Chicken: Rinse and cube chicken breasts into half-inch pieces. Shallow-poach in a pot with 1 inch of water and butter for 5 minutes until cooked through. Reserve some cooking liquid.
Grill the Chicken: Grill the chicken in a buttered grill pan for 6-8 minutes until golden brown (optional, if you prefer a quicker meal, skip this step).
Sauté the onion and garlic: Sauté sliced garlic and cubed onions in the reserved chicken liquid until golden. Add tomato paste. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, Balsamic vinegar, and paprika. Add three tablespoons of pasta water, then cream.
Cook the Pasta: Start cooking pasta (8 minutes for al dente). Reserve some pasta water.
Add the chicken: Simmer for 2 minutes, then add the cooked pasta and three more tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Mix in sliced sun-dried tomatoes, chopped parsley, and grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy your creamy chicken pasta!

Notes

Can you use Milk instead of Cream in pasta?

You can substitute milk for cream in creamy chicken pasta, but the sauce will be lighter in texture and richness due to cream's higher fat content. To thicken the sauce, mix milk with a roux of flour, butter, and cornstarch. Adding butter or Parmesan cheese can enhance the creaminess and flavor of the dish.

What makes the Creamy Chicken Pasta creamier?

Using heavy cream, fresh cream, or whipping cream makes creamy chicken pasta richer due to their high fat content (36-40%). For a lighter option, combine 100 ml of cream with 50 ml of milk. Butter can also enhance the sauce's smoothness.

To thicken and cream the sauce, use Parmesan, mozzarella, cream cheese, or mascarpone, which adds a tangy flavor. Remember to reserve some starchy pasta water before draining to help thicken the sauce without adding fat. Avoid overcooking pasta to prevent excess starch from making the dish sludgy. Simmer the sauce on low heat to avoid separation and curdling, adding cheese or butter for extra creaminess. Gradually add liquid if the sauce is too thick, and serve immediately to enjoy it at the right temperature.

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