Description
A comforting pasta dish with creamy sauce, tender chicken, earthy mushrooms, and vibrant asparagus, perfect for weeknights or dinner parties.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb chicken breast (cubed)
- 8 oz whole-wheat penne
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 bunch asparagus (cut into 2-inch pieces)
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Boil pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the whole-wheat penne until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sear chicken: Season cubed chicken with salt, pepper, and onion powder. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet and cook chicken until golden brown, about 5–7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté veggies: In the same skillet, add remaining olive oil. Sauté sliced mushrooms for 3 minutes, then add asparagus and minced garlic, cooking until bright green and tender, about 3 minutes.
- Simmer liquid: Pour in chicken broth and scrape any bits from the pan. Stir in Italian seasoning and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Toss & emulsify: Return chicken and penne to the pan. Add Parmesan and reserved pasta water, tossing for 1 minute to coat sauce with pasta. Garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
Make-ahead by preparing chicken and veggies in advance. Adjust seasoning to taste and consider customization options.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: pasta, chicken, creamy, mushrooms, asparagus, dinner, Italian