Creamy Garlic Chicken Penne

Creamy Garlic Chicken Penne

Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Serves: 4

Ingredients

For the chicken:

2 chicken breasts (sliced into bite-size pieces)

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tbsp olive oil

For the sauce:

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup heavy cream

½ cup chicken broth

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

½ tsp chili flakes (optional)

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 cups baby spinach (optional)

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)

Pasta:

300g (about 10 oz) penne past

Salt (for pasta water)

Instructions

Cook the penne:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Add penne and cook until al dente (about 9–11 minutes). Drain and set aside.

Cook the chicken:

Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat.

Add chicken pieces and cook until golden and cooked through (6–8 minutes). Remove and set aside.

Make the creamy garlic sauce:

In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium.

Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 1 minute).

Pour in chicken broth and deglaze the pan, scraping up any brown bits.

Add heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, chili flakes (if using), and stir until the sauce thickens slightly (3–5 minutes).

Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

Combine

Add cooked penne, chicken, spinach, and cherry tomatoes (if using) to the sauce.

Toss everything together until heated through and well coated in the sauce.

Serve:

Garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh herbs like parsley or basil if desired.

Serve hot!

Substitutions & Tips

Use rotisserie chicken for a shortcut.

Swap heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter version.

Add mushrooms, peas, or sun-dried to

matoes for variety.

Want a printable version or meal-prep adaptation? Just