Easy Chicken Penne Pasta Recipe is a one pot skillet meal perfect for family dinner. Its creamy, cheesy and ready in 15 minutes for a simple weeknight dinner that is loaded with flavor!
This easy pasta dish is a family favorite meal. It creamy, delicious and full of flavor. The chicken, pasta and rich, creamy sauce cooks in one pot for busy weeknight, meal prep, or when you are craving a comforting dinner. It’s endlessly versatile and customizable to your family’s taste.
We make a lot of pasta recipe and this one is always on the menu. If you like this pasta dish, you should try this Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken Penne Recipe, Kielbasa Pasta, Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta, Penne alla Vodka and Italian Sausage Pasta.
Ingredients
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – Dice into small pieces
- Olive Oil – Use oil of your choice
- Minced Garlic – Learn How to Mince Garlic Cloves
- Butter – We used unsalted butter
- Heavy Cream – Gives the sauce a creamy base
- Chicken Broth – See Chicken broth substitutes if you are out
- Parmesan Cheese – We used grated parmesan cheese
- Penne Pasta – Use your favorite pasta
Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
How to Make Chicken Penne Pasta
Step 1 – In a large skillet, cook the chicken in the olive oil over medium high heat. Season with salt, pepper, and minced garlic. Continue cooking until the chicken is no longer pink. This only takes a few minutes.
Step 2 – Turn the heat to low, stir in the heavy cream, chicken broth, butter and the Parmesan cheese. Cover and simmer for a few minutes until flavors combine. Stir in the cooked pasta and serve.
Chicken Penne Pasta
Ingredients
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts diced
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- 12 ounces penne pasta, cooked al dente
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Cook 12 ounces penne pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon minced garlic and 4 tablespoons butter and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in 2 cups heavy cream and ½ cup chicken broth and stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and stir in 1 cup parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add the cooked penne pasta and toss until evenly coated in the sauce.
- Serve warm.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Recipe Tips
- Pasta – Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions.
- Chicken – Cut the chicken up in bite size pieces. Make sure they are about the same size so they cook evenly.
Variations Ideas
- Change Meat – Try shrimp instead of chicken. You can also make this dish with chicken thighs
- Vegetables – Add in peas or broccoli to the skillet. We have even added in cherry tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, and grape tomatoes. Another delicious option is spinach, mushrooms, asparagus or whatever you prefer.
- Seasoning – Cajun seasoning or Old Bay would be delicious mixed into the sauce. Add in ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes for a hint of spice.
- Pasta – Feel free to use different types of pasta. You can make this pasta dish with whole wheat pasta, gluten-free pasta, rigatoni or farfalle.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Suggestions
We served ours with salad and it was such an easy and delicious dinner. The cream sauce is so amazing so you will want something to dip into that amazing sauce.
We love Garlic Bread Cheese Sticks Recipe and it is perfect for getting every last bit of that amazing sauce.
You could also try Roasted Green Beans or learn how to steam broccoli in the microwave for a super easy veggie side dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. We recommend waiting until the pasta has cooled to room temperature before storing. It will stay fresh in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Depending on how much you have leftover, reheat in a sauce pan over medium-high heat. If you have a smaller portion, reheating in the microwave works also.
More Easy Chicken Pasta Recipes
- Crock Pot Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Crock Pot Pesto Chicken Pasta Casserole
- Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
- Crock Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe
- Crock Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
More Easy Skillet Recipes
If you make this chicken penne pasta recipe, make sure to leave us a star review. We love to hear from you.
The base recipe with the Cajun Seasoning is an absolute banger!!! That extra seasoning really adds the flavor kick that I was looking for! Thanks!
Yay! I love hearing this so much! Thank you for sharing for the positive review of the recipe!