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.
Why You'll Love Chicken Penne Pasta
- It’s quick and easy. The best thing about pasta dinners are that they are quick and easy, making them a perfect option for busy weeknights. For some other weeknight pastas try Pasta Bake with Sausage, Creamy Salmon Pasta, and Mascarpone Pesto Pasta.
- It has the perfect balance of flavors. From fresh garlic and cheese that bring bold flavors to the starchy pasta and flavorful chicken to the heavy cream and chicken broth that form the base of the sauce, this chicken penne pasta is delicious and loaded with flavor.
- Chicken penne pasta is filling and satisfying. This pasta dish is loaded with carbs and protein to help you refuel after a long day — whether you used your brain, your body, or both to get through it. Make dinner the satisfying experience you deserve by preparing this chicken penne pasta.
- It’s perfect for tomorrow’s lunch. When I make creamy chicken pasta, I always remember to make extra for tomorrow. It reheats well the next day and is just as satisfying as it was the first time.
Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this delicious Chicken Penne Pasta, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in recipe card below):
- chicken breast - you can substitute with boneless chicken thighs if you prefer, or use cooked shredded chicken instead (just skip the chicken steps in the beginning and toss in the shredded chicken at the end).
- salt and pepper
- vegetable oil
- penne pasta - feel free to substitute with your favorite shaped pasta. Try shells, bow ties, rotini, or macaroni.
- butter
- garlic
- all-purpose flour
- heavy cream
- chicken broth - or use reserved hot pasta water
- Parmesan cheese
- fresh parsley - optional, for garnish.
You can also add your favorite vegetables to this chicken penne pasta for added nutrition. After everything is cooked, you can toss in:
- air fryer broccoli
- roasted asparagus
- steamed spinach
- boiled peas
- sautéed green beans
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, cooking pot, and a skillet (I used a cast-iron skillet).
How to Make the Best Chicken Penne Pasta
- Boil pasta. 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 ½ cup of the hot pasta water in a bowl (if using instead of chicken stock). Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Sear chicken. Use a paper towel to pat the chicken breasts completely dry. Season with salt and pepper. 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 chicken. Slice the chicken into ½-inch strips, transfer onto a plate, and cover with aluminium foil to stay moist.
- Make the creamy sauce. 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. 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.
- Toss in chicken. Add the chicken and pasta to the skillet and toss well to coat. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
How to Serve Chicken Penne Pasta
Serve chicken penne pasta with some bread for soaking up any extra sauce and some light side dishes to balance it out.
- Garlic Breadsticks
- Garden Salad
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Greek Salad
- Cheesy Garlic Dinner Rolls
- Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad
Storing Instructions
- How to store: Allow leftover chicken penne pasta to cool in the pan or in a container with the lid off. Once the pasta reaches room temperature, place it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. If you don’t allow it to cool before covering, the pasta can become mushy.
- How to reheat: Reheat in a pan on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through. If the sauce has thickened too much in the fridge, add a splash of water. You can also reheat in the microwave in 30 second increments until warmed through.
More Pasta Recipes
- 40 Best Pasta Recipes
- Creamy Salmon Pasta
- Pesto Penne Pasta
- White Chicken and Spinach Lasagna
- Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes
- Fettuccine Alfredo
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Recipe
Chicken Penne Pasta
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
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.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ pound penne pasta (2 cups)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth (or reserved hot pasta water)
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- 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 ½ cup of the hot pasta water in a bowl (if using instead of chicken stock). Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Use a paper towel to pat the chicken breasts completely dry. Season with salt and pepper.
- 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 ½-inch strips, transfer onto a plate, and cover with aluminium foil to stay moist.
- 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.
- 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.
- Add the chicken and pasta to the skillet and toss well to coat. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
How to use shredded chicken: Skip the first few steps with the chicken and toss in 3 cups of shredded chicken to the sauce at the end. Heat it until warmed and then toss in the pasta.
How to store: Allow leftover chicken penne pasta to cool in the pan or in a container with the lid off. Once the pasta reaches room temperature, place it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. If you don’t allow it to cool before covering, the pasta can become mushy.
How to reheat: Reheat in a pan on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through. If the sauce has thickened too much in the fridge, add a splash of water. You can also reheat in the microwave in 30 second increments until warmed through.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
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Nicole F. says
Delicious. I tossed in roasted broccoli florets (tossed with oil, roasted garlic and onion seasoning, and red pepper flakes); and, used shredded rotisserie chicken breast. OMG. Soooo good on this blustery, winter night. Thank you!! <3
Gaynor says
Quick easy and Yummy 😋
Carolyne W. says
Amazing recipe! So easy to put together and great taste.
Holliday says
Every recipe I have tried from Ahead of Thyme is SO delicious, so easy and fast and the instructions are so easy to follow and everything always turns out perfectly. This is such a fancy, easy dinner. Great to impress guests or make for a date night or special occasion. It's so easy and quick.
Rubi says
Made this dinner for my boyfriend and I tonight as a late minute sort of thing with, and I just so happened to have all the ingredients except for the chicken. It came out amazing, I'm no experienced cook whatsoever and this was so simple to make, and tasted wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe with us. It's definitely become a favorite.
Stormi says
Well this is simply to die for! Absolutely delicious! And so easy! I cheated and used a rotisserie chicken and it made it that much easier. My church makes a similar meal on Wednesday nights with bowtie pasta and they serve it with garlic toast and harvest apple salad. Such a good combination. I tried to master their recipe several times but here it is! You did it for me!