Description
Comfort meets classic Italian flavors in this mouthwatering chicken parmesan pasta skillet that brings family-style dining to your table. Crispy chicken, melted cheese, and perfectly cooked pasta create a simple yet irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
Pasta and Sauce:
- 2 cups uncooked penne or rotini pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups chicken broth (or water)
- ½ cup heavy cream (optional, for a creamier sauce)
Seasonings and Cheese:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Drizzle olive oil into a spacious skillet, warming it gently over medium-high heat until it shimmers with potential.
- Place chicken pieces into the heated skillet, meticulously coating each morsel with a harmonious blend of salt, cracked pepper, aromatic garlic powder, and fragrant Italian seasoning.
- Sauté the chicken with deliberate, occasional stirring, allowing each piece to develop a golden-brown exterior and ensuring the interior reaches perfect doneness.
- Carefully transfer the cooked chicken to a separate plate, preserving its warmth and succulence while preparing the next culinary phase.
- In the same skillet, leverage the remaining flavorful remnants to create a rich foundation for the upcoming sauce.
- Introduce pasta directly into the skillet, coating each strand with the residual chicken-infused oils and seasonings.
- Pour marinara sauce over the pasta, gently folding to ensure comprehensive and even coverage.
- Nestle the previously cooked chicken pieces back into the skillet, allowing them to intermingle with the saucy pasta.
- Generously sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan cheese across the surface, creating a molten, bubbling blanket of dairy decadence.
- Cover the skillet and let the cheese melt into a luxurious, stretchy layer that binds the dish together.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves, adding a vibrant, herbaceous note to complete the culinary composition.
Notes
- Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts for even cooking and easier cutting into bite-sized pieces.
- Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure a crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in flavor.
- Customize spice blend by adjusting Italian seasoning or adding red pepper flakes for extra kick.
- Use a cast-iron skillet for better heat distribution and a more robust, caramelized chicken surface.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 920 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg