Description
Creamy one-pot cheesy chicken pasta brings comfort straight from Italian-American kitchens to dinner tables. Melted cheese, tender chicken, and perfectly cooked pasta combine in a quick, satisfying meal you can savor in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2–3 boneless, skinless chicken fillets, diced into bite-sized pieces
Pasta and Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) dried short-cut pasta, e.g., rigatoni
- 24 ounces (680 grams) jar of marinara sauce, e.g., Newman’s Own
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 medium yellow onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Additional dried Italian seasoning, optional
- Water to fill the empty marinara sauce jar
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley and/or basil, minced
Instructions
- Coat diced chicken with a blend of salt, black pepper, Italian herbs, and garlic powder. Heat olive oil (30 milliliters / ) in a large pot over medium-high temperature.
- Sear chicken pieces for approximately 4-5 minutes until they are nearly fully cooked, developing a light golden exterior. Transfer chicken to a separate plate.
- In the same pot, sauté finely chopped onions and minced garlic for 2-3 minutes until they become soft and release their aromatic essence.
- Pour marinara sauce into the pot, then refill the empty sauce jar with water and add to create a simmering liquid base. Increase heat to bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Reintroduce the seared chicken to the pot and add uncooked pasta. Stir thoroughly to ensure even distribution of ingredients.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and allow the pasta to cook for 10-12 minutes. Periodically stir to prevent sticking and ensure uniform cooking.
- Once pasta reaches al dente consistency, integrate grated Parmesan cheese and 60 grams of shredded mozzarella, stirring until completely melted.
- Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese across the top of the dish and let it melt for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Optional: Enhance flavor by sprinkling extra Italian herbs and garnishing with fresh chopped parsley or basil before serving.
Notes
- Customize the seasoning by adjusting spice levels with more garlic powder or Italian herbs for a personalized flavor profile.
- Ensure chicken is mostly cooked before removing from pot to maintain juicy, tender meat texture throughout the dish.
- Use marinara sauce as a quick base that eliminates the need for multiple sauce ingredients while providing rich, bold flavor.
- Select short pasta shapes like penne or rotini that capture cheese and sauce easily and cook evenly in the one-pot method.
- Create a creamy consistency by stirring cheeses thoroughly and allowing them to melt completely before final garnishing.
- Transform leftovers into a cold pasta salad by chilling and adding fresh herbs the next day for a delicious meal remix.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 530 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg