Description
A quick and delicious Cheesy Chicken Pasta recipe featuring tender herb-coated grilled chicken strips combined with a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce and generous amounts of cheese, all tossed with al dente spiral pasta. This comforting meal is perfect for a family dinner, ready in just 25 minutes and sure to satisfy cheese and chicken lovers alike.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 500g chicken breast
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp dried mixed herbs
- Salt and pepper, to season
Pasta
- 500g spiral pasta
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
Sauce
- 40g butter
- 2 Tbsp oil from sun-dried tomato jar
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 100g sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 2 cups milk
- 100g cheese, grated
Topping
- 20g parmesan, grated
- Fresh herbs (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Slice the chicken breast horizontally into pieces about 1cm thick. Coat them in olive oil and dried mixed herbs, then season well with salt and pepper to enhance the flavor.
- Cook Chicken: Heat a frying pan to high heat and grill the chicken strips for 4 minutes on each side until they develop a golden color and are cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside to cool slightly.
- Cook Pasta: Meanwhile, cook the spiral pasta according to the packet instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta, then set the cooked pasta aside.
- Sauté Veggies: Return the frying pan to the stove on low heat. Melt the butter together with a dash of oil from the sun-dried tomato jar. Add the diced onion and carrot and sauté for a few minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Make Sauce Base: Stir in the crushed garlic and sliced sun-dried tomatoes. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir well, cooking for about one minute to remove the raw flour taste.
- Add Milk: Gradually pour in the milk while stirring continuously. Allow the sauce to thicken gently on low heat, stirring often to avoid lumps.
- Combine Chicken and Cheese: Shred the cooked chicken using two forks. Add the shredded chicken and grated cheese to the sauce, mixing thoroughly to combine and create a creamy texture.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: If the sauce seems too thick, gradually add some of the reserved pasta water to thin it out to your desired consistency. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the frying pan and toss everything together carefully to coat the pasta evenly with the cheesy chicken sauce.
- Serve: Divide the pasta between plates, topping each serving with grated parmesan cheese and fresh herbs if desired, for an extra burst of flavor and presentation appeal.
Notes
- You can substitute spiral pasta with penne or fusilli if preferred.
- Adding a pinch of chili flakes during sautéing will give a subtle heat to the dish.
- Use low-fat milk and cheese for a lighter version of the recipe.
- Fresh herbs like parsley or basil work beautifully as a garnish to elevate flavors.
- Reserve pasta water is crucial for adjusting the sauce consistency without losing flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian