Description
Comforting white cheddar chicken pasta delivers rich, hearty flavors straight from home kitchens. Cheesy goodness mingles with tender chicken, creating a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (penne or fusilli)
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
- 1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups milk
Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
- Heat butter in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, around 350°F, until completely melted.
- Introduce minced garlic and sauté for 30-45 seconds, releasing aromatic oils without browning.
- Dust flour across butter-garlic mixture, whisking continuously to create a smooth roux. Cook for 1-2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Slowly stream milk into the roux, constantly stirring to prevent lumps and promote even thickening. Simmer until sauce reaches a creamy consistency.
- Reduce heat and incorporate white cheddar and Parmesan, stirring until cheese melts completely and sauce becomes silky.
- Enhance sauce with onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper, balancing flavors with gentle stirring.
- Fold shredded chicken and prepared pasta into cheese sauce, ensuring thorough and uniform coating.
- Transfer to serving dishes immediately while piping hot. Optional: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley for vibrant color and herbaceous note.
Notes
- Enhance the sauce’s richness by using full-fat milk and freshly grated cheese for optimal melting and flavor development.
- Prevent pasta from becoming mushy by cooking it just shy of al dente, as it will continue absorbing sauce during final mixing.
- Swap chicken with plant-based protein like tofu or chickpeas for a vegetarian version, ensuring protein remains the star of this creamy dish.
- add more for a thinner sauce, reduce for a thicker, more clingy texture that coats pasta perfectly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg