Description
Classic Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Pasta emerges as a comforting Italian-inspired dish with rich, velvety sauce. Herb-infused ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a satisfying meal perfect for hungry home cooks seeking robust flavor profiles.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 12 oz (340 g) fettuccine or preferred pasta
- 8 oz (226 g) mushrooms, sliced (button or cremini)
- 2 cups (473 ml) heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1 cup (237 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp thyme (fresh or dried)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a generously salted large pot of water to a vigorous boil. Cook pasta until perfectly al dente, precisely following package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Aromatic Foundation: In a spacious skillet, transform butter into a golden elixir over medium heat. Introduce minced garlic, releasing its fragrant essence until edges become translucent and gloriously aromatic.
- Flavor Layering: Add mushroom slices, allowing them to caramelize and exude their rich earthiness. Simultaneously, incorporate chicken pieces, seasoning with salt and pepper. Sauté until chicken achieves a pristine white color with subtle golden highlights.
- Sauce Transformation: Stream heavy cream into the skillet, creating a luxurious base. Integrate parmesan cheese, whisking continuously to forge a silky, harmonious sauce that envelops the ingredients in creamy perfection.
- Final Assembly: Combine pasta with the velvety sauce, utilizing reserved cooking liquid to fine-tune consistency. Ensure each pasta strand is magnificently coated. Elevate the dish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, introducing a vibrant herbal dimension. Serve immediately while the sauce remains gloriously creamy and inviting.
Notes
- Pasta Water Magic: Reserve the starchy cooking liquid, as it helps create a silky, smooth sauce and improves overall pasta coating.
- Mushroom Browning Technique: Allow mushrooms to caramelize without overcrowding the skillet, ensuring deep flavor development and preventing soggy texture.
- Chicken Cooking Precision: Ensure chicken is cooked thoroughly but not overdone to maintain tenderness and prevent dryness.
- Dietary Adaptation Options: Swap heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk for lighter versions, use gluten-free pasta, or replace chicken with plant-based protein for alternative dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 800
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg