Sometimes you need a fast recipe that has a little wow factor. This creamy chicken pasta recipe is what you’re after. Easy chicken dinners like this are perfect for nights when you need something quick and delicious that will keep the whole family happy, but something you can serve to company, too.
The key to this recipe is using precooked chicken, like a rotisserie chicken or chicken breasts from the prepared food section of the grocery store (it’s a great leftover chicken recipe, too). To make the sauce, you simply cook mushrooms and onions in butter, add a little white wine or broth, and then a slurry and heavy cream for the sauce. Tossed with penne pasta and topped with cheese, it’s a winning combo for dinner.
This creamy chicken pasta is super adaptable, too, and you can make it your own with added vegetables or herbs. Or just follow our recipe exactly as is! Either way, you’re bound to be satisfied.
Ingredients for Creamy Chicken Pasta
- Pasta: The recipe calls for penne, which is good for saucy dishes thanks to its tubular shape. Other similar pasta shapes will do, like rigatoni or even something squiggly like campanelle.
- Mushrooms: Easy to find cremini or button mushrooms are the best types of mushrooms for this recipe—they’re flavorful but also accessible—but if it’s mushroom season, you can play around with different types of wild mushrooms. Make sure to slice them thinly, so they can cook down properly and even get browned a bit.
- Green onion: Green onions are milder in flavor than yellow onions, especially since they cook down with the mushrooms. However, you can certainly substitute them with any type of onions you have on hand.
- Wine or broth: This recipe calls for either white wine or broth. Wine adds a bit of acid as well as flavor, and broth will bring a deeper, savory flavor to the sauce. The best type of wine for a sauce like this is a pinot grigio or unoaked chardonnay. Make it one you want to drink, so you can drink the rest with dinner.
- Heavy cream: The secret to a creamy sauce is, well, cream. You don’t want to skip out on this, but if you have to you can substitute it for half-and-half or milk in a pinch.
- Cooked chicken: We’re always looking for ways to use leftover chicken, and this is the perfect dish for it. Chop it up into small cubes, so it can disperse evenly throughout the pasta. You can even use poached chicken or grilled chicken breasts you made yourself.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the mushrooms and onions
In a large pot of salted water, cook the pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the mushrooms and onions in butter for four to five minutes or until tender. Add the wine and garlic and stir well to combine. Bring the sauce up to a boil and then immediately turn the heat down to a simmer. Cook the sauce until the liquid is reduced by half, about five minutes.
Step 2: Finish the sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and water until smooth. Gradually pour the mixture into the mushrooms. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for two minutes, stirring as it thickens. Stir in the cream, bring everything back up to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for another four to five minutes.
Step 3: Add the pasta and chicken
Add the pasta, chicken, capers, salt and pepper to the cream sauce. Cook for three to four minutes, or until fully heated through. Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Recipe Variations
- Add some bacon: If you’d like to add another meaty component to the mushrooms, add some bacon. The smoky flavor really complements the rest of the flavors.
- Make it dairy-free: If you can’t eat dairy, we got you covered. Use some well-shaken coconut milk instead of heavy cream, or even coconut cream for a little added richness.
- Try a different cheese: The recipe calls for Parmesan cheese, but there are different types of cheese you can use instead. Try some aged Gouda or Gruyere grated into the sauce or onto the dish before serving. You could also use Grana Padano, a domestic hard cheese similar to Parmesan.
- Add other veggies: Extra vegetables are an easy addition to this recipe. Try wilted spinach or kale, or florets of blanched broccoli. Frozen veggies work, too; just add after you’ve cooked the mushrooms a bit.
How to Store Creamy Chicken Pasta
Creamy chicken pasta is best served fresh, but it still makes for tasty leftovers. Store it in the fridge in a covered container for up to five days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Can you freeze creamy chicken pasta?
We don’t recommend freezing this dish. Creamy dishes can be hard to freeze and thaw without the cream separating and becoming grainy.
Creamy Chicken Pasta Tips
Can you use milk instead of cream for creamy chicken pasta?
You can definitely substitute milk for the heavy cream. It will be slightly thinner and less creamy with milk, but it will still be delicious.
What can you serve with creamy chicken pasta?
Since this is such a cream-forward dish, we recommend serving it with any crisp side salad recipes or steamed vegetables for a variety of cooking textures. It also goes great with homemade rolls or crusty bread to soak up the cream sauce.
