Description
This Chicken & Mushroom Pasta is a creamy, flavorful Italian-American dish combining tender chicken strips, sautéed mushrooms, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce tossed with al dente pasta. Perfect for a comforting yet elegant weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta such as penne or fettuccine
Protein & Seasoning
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized strips
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce & Cooking
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 ounces cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken strips with Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Add to the skillet and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté mushrooms and garlic: In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until softened and lightly browned. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Make the sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and let it simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine everything: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and add the drained pasta. Toss gently to coat everything evenly with the creamy sauce.
- Finish and serve: Sprinkle with red pepper flakes, if using, and chopped fresh parsley for a burst of flavor and freshness. Serve warm.
Notes
- Substitute half-and-half for heavy cream for a lighter sauce.
- Adding a splash of white wine with the chicken broth enhances the flavor.
- Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or stovetop with a splash of milk to loosen the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg
