White Cheddar Chicken Pasta Delight
Creamy white cheddar sauce hugs tender chicken and twirly pasta for a cozy, crowd-pleasing dinner. Spinach and lemon keep it bright.
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Servings:
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 12 oz dry short pasta (penne or cavatappi)
- 1.25 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- 0.75 tsp kosher salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp paprika
- 0.5 tsp dry mustard powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 0.5 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 0.75 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cup whole milk
- 2 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
- 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes optional
- 2 cup baby spinach lightly packed
- 1 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside; reserve a little cooking water.
- Season chicken with half the salt, pepper, paprika, and mustard powder.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken until browned and cooked through, 5–6 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Melt butter in the same skillet. Soften onion for 3 minutes, then stir in garlic for 30 seconds.
- Sprinkle in flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute to form a paste.
- Whisk in chicken broth, then milk. Simmer gently, stirring, until slightly thickened, 3–5 minutes.
- Lower heat. Stir in white cheddar and Parmesan until smooth. Add remaining salt, pepper, paprika, mustard, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Fold in spinach to wilt. Add lemon juice to brighten the sauce.
- Toss in cooked pasta and chicken, loosening with a splash of pasta water if needed. Warm through and garnish with parsley.
Notes
Variation: Stir in steamed broccoli florets or peas with the spinach. Swap the chicken for sautéed shrimp; cook shrimp just until pink, then remove and fold back in at the end.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.
This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic White Cheddar Chicken Pasta Delight flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.