Description
A creamy white cheddar chicken pasta that combines the rich taste of sharp white cheddar cheese with tender chicken and pasta, creating a comforting dish perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- Pasta: 16 oz (450g) short pasta, such as penne, rotini, or cavatappi
- Chicken: 1.5 lbs (680g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons
- Unsalted Butter: 4 tablespoons
- All-Purpose Flour: 1/4 cup
- Garlic: 3 cloves, minced
- Chicken Broth: 2 cups, low-sodium
- Whole Milk: 2 cups, warmed
- Sharp White Cheddar Cheese: 3 cups (about 12 oz), freshly shredded
- Onion Powder: 1 teaspoon
- Smoked Paprika: 1/2 teaspoon
- Salt: 1 teaspoon, or to taste
- Black Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon, freshly ground
- Fresh Parsley: 2 tablespoons, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, drain the pasta, and set aside
- Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and onion powder. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken for 5-7 minutes until golden brown; remove and set aside
- In the same skillet, melt the butter, add minced garlic, and cook until fragrant. Whisk in the flour to create a roux, cooking for 1-2 minutes
- Slowly pour in the chicken broth, whisking until smooth. Gradually add warm milk and let simmer for 3-5 minutes until slightly thickened
- Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheddar until melted. Add smoked paprika
- Return the chicken and pasta to the skillet, mixing everything well. Adjust sauce consistency with reserved pasta water as needed
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley
Notes
For best results, shred your own cheese to avoid a gritty texture.
Reserve starchy pasta water to help emulsify and maintain creaminess in the sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 685 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 120mg