This Chicken Penne Pasta recipe is an easy weeknight dinner with a creamy sauce the whole family will love. If you love chicken pasta recipes, this is a recipe you will want to keep on rotation for family dinner.
Jump to:
❤️ Why you'll love it
Easy meal: this creamy chicken pasta bake is an easy to make delicious dinner.
Versatile: this easy pasta recipe can be adapted in many ways to suit your own taste and is easily portable making it a great potluck dish.
Comfort food: a combination of creamy cheese sauce, chicken, and pasta that provides pure comfort.
🥘 Ingredients
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Chicken Tenderloins: buy the tenderloins themselves, or use boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips to cook. If desired, boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used.
Frozen green peas: I like to use frozen peas as they are firmer and have better flavor. Fresh peas can be substituted.
Extra virgin olive oil
Shallots
Garlic
Chicken stock
Heavy Cream
Gruyere Cheese
Cheddar Cheese
Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs
Salt
Black pepper
Butter
🔪 Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add and cook pasta over medium-high heat, according to package until al dente. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add the chicken tenderloins and season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes on each side, or until chicken is lightly browned and no longer pink inside.
- Remove chicken from the pot and set it aside to cool. Once the chicken has cooled, chop it into bite sized pieces.
- Using the same large pot the chicken was cooked in, add the remaining olive oil. Add the shallot and garlic and cook 2 minutes, or until the shallots are soft.
- Stir in the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, allowing stock to reduce slightly.
- Stir in the heavy cream and bring back the broth mixture back to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the cream sauce has reduced and thickened slightly.
- Add the cheeses and stir until the cheese has just melted.
- Mix the cooked pasta, peas, chicken, and sauce together and transfer to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt butter for 10-15 seconds. Sprinkle top of casserole with bread crumbs, then drizzle with melted butter.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly around the edges and top is lightly browned.
🥄 Equipment
Large pot: this can be a very large skillet or tall stock pot.
Wooden spoon
Cutting board
Chef knife
🥫Storage
Refrigerate: store leftovers in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Freeze: store in a freezer safe, airtight container up to 3 months.
Reheat: heat thawed casserole in the microwave until warmed through.
📖 Variations
- Stir in ½ cup chopped fresh tomatoes before baking.
- Substitute 1 teaspoon onion powder for the shallots
- Substitute chicken broth for the vegetable broth.
- Use one of your favorite cheeses. A hard cheese is best. Parmesan cheese, asiago, colby, and swiss.
- Sprinkle a teaspoon of red pepper flakes
💭 Tips
- Any leftover chicken can be used in this recipe, just skip the cook chicken instruction.
- Use 1-½ teaspoons pre-minced garlic or 1 teaspoon garlic powder in place of the garlic cloves.
- For a more golden crispy crust, the last 2 minutes of cook time, turn the broiler on high and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until breadcrumbs are golden.
📚 Related Recipes
Cajun Chicken Pasta is a little bit of spice and a whole lotta nice.
Chicken Parmesan Casserole is one of the easiest recipes to make. Few ingredients, and the whole family loves it!
Cincinnati Style Chili is a delicious way to enjoy two favorites, chili and pasta! Topped off with a pile of cheese and onions, this is a delicious pasta meal.
Creamy Chicken Riggies is a creamy, spicy, indulgent dish that is pure comfort food in your bowl.
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese is a good old fashioned pasta casserole just like mom made. No boxes required.
Shrimp Broccoli Cavatappi is a healthier pasta dish similar to an Applebee's recipe I enjoyed years ago.
Velvet Shrimp is creamy and delicious with a touch of old bay seasoning.
🍽 Serve with..
Serve with a side of freshly baked rolls or homemade bread.
Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products!
When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Chicken Penne Pasta
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta ,cooked until al dente
- 1 pound chicken tenderloins
- 2 tablespoons olive oil ,divided
- 1 shallot , finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup frozen peas
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 4 ounces gruyere cheese shredded
- 2 ounces mild cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 tablespoon seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon butter sliced very thin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add and cook pasta over medium-high heat, according to package until al dente. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add the chicken tenderloins and season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes on each side, or until chicken is lightly browned and no longer pink inside.
- Remove chicken from the pot and set it aside to cool. Once the chicken has cooled, chop it into bite sized pieces.
- Using the same large pot the chicken was cooked in, add the remaining olive oil. Add the shallot and garlic and cook 2 minutes, or until the shallots are soft.
- Stir in the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, allowing stock to reduce slightly.
- Stir in the heavy cream and bring back the broth mixture back to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the cream sauce has reduced and thickened slightly.
- Add the cheeses and stir until the cheese has just melted.
- Mix the cooked pasta, peas, chicken, and sauce together and transfer to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt butter for 10-15 seconds. Sprinkle top of casserole with bread crumbs, then drizzle with melted butter.
- .Bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly around the edges and top is lightly browned.
Karen
Shelby,
Thanks for much for the kind words! It's always so nice to hear when someone makes a dish, and I'm so glad you liked it (the chicken sounds like a great alternative!). I hope you're feeling better and can enjoy the weekend!
Inspired by eRecipeCards
Just started eating my whole wheat pasta. I love the look of peas in the pasta. Makes it much more appealing
Inspired by eRecipeCards
DELICIOUS. I love the idea of using cauliflower as the base for this. Terrific recipe
Mads
Pasta is my #1 comfort food when I'm feeling sick. It doesn't do harm to my tummy, it takes 10 minutes, and it is delicious.
This looks especially good.
Feel better!
Ruth Daniels
It definitely does sound like perfect comfort food. I do hope it did the trick and cured you. Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Nights.
Pegasuslegend
Wow does this ever look great!
Patsyk
Those photos definitely say "comfort food" to me! I always crave some cheesey pasta goodness when I'm feeling the way you have been this week. Definitely a fabulous dish!
Fallon
Sounds so good!I always stay away from cream based sauces because of them adding more calories.. but this just looks like it would be worth it!
bellini
Something similar, only with smoked Gruyere, used to be on the menu at a local restaurant. I was sad when they took it off and added so many Tex Mex recipes.
Shelby
Linda, it was what I bought when I wanted to make that peanut butter caramel sauce....and fortunately it hadn't expired or gone bad on me yet!
Simona
I hope you are feeling better now. You certainly prepared a nice pasta dish and I am not surprised it was comforting. Reading your post make me think about the last time I was really sick: I also managed to get up and prepare what I needed at that time to comfort me. Thank you so much for contributing this to Presto Pasta Nights.
Linda
I hope you are feeling much better!
This looks so creamy and, well, comforting. 🙂 I'm shocked you had heavy cream in your fridge. :O
Coleen
I love comfort food anytime...sick, not sick, happy, sad..anytime. This looks fantastic. I can't believe you are that sick and still cooking. Not me!! If I'm that sick, we have cereal!! I sure hope you are feeling better.
Deeba PAB
Sorry you were unwell Shelby. This does sound like a true comfort dish. Nothing like a creamy pasta to boost the spirits!
Kathleen
This looks amazing. I can't wait to make it for my baby boy!