Last Updated on April 15, 2022 by Karen
This One-Pot Garlic Alfredo Chicken and Penne is a quick, delicious pasta dish with a creamy garlic alfredo sauce all made in a single pot – it’s perfect for weeknight family meal!
As our schedule gets more and more packed and weekdays become so hectic, it’s time to think about quick and easy weeknight meals. Some nights are just meant for effortless meals, and one that is flavorful, scrumptious, and super easy to make is right up my alley!
I love this One-Pot Garlic Alfredo Chicken and Penne because of its delicious simplicity. Pasta cooked until al dente is coated with a luscious, creamy garlic alfredo sauce then tossed with grilled boneless, skinless chicken breasts – it’s satisfaction in every bite!
Want to know the best part of this recipe? It’s all cooked in one pot and comes together in under 15 minutes! Dry pasta is simmered with a chicken broth and milk mixture, which actually soaks up the amazing flavor as it cooks, thickening up into a light creamy sauce.
How is that for a weeknight meal?
One-Pot Garlic Alfredo Chicken and Penne
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth or more as needed
- 1 cup milk or more as needed
- 12 oz quick cooking penne uncooked (I used Barilla Pronto)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 boneless skinless cooked chicken breasts, sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in chicken broth, milk, and penne. Bring to a boil and cook on high, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender, about 10 to 12 minutes.
- Add heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and cooked chicken to the skillet and continue to cook for approximately 2 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce is too thick, add more milk as needed until desired consistency is reached.
- Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
For this quick and easy, yet healthy and nutritious meal solution, I used Barilla Pronto pasta which can be cooked in less than 10 minutes and in a single pot without additional boiling and draining! While the pasta is cooking, I sliced up some cooked chicken breasts (seasoned with salt and pepper and pan-seared or baked). I always have some cooked chicken breast on hand so that I can quickly reheat the chicken in the oven or microwave and add some protein to my salads, pasta dishes, stir-fries, and even sandwiches. Cooked rotisserie chicken is a great option too!
This recipe is quick and easy, and perfect for those of you who meal prep! In fact, I like to make a big batch and have enough for dinner one night, and leftovers for lunches throughout the week.
I hope you love this One-Pot Garlic Alfredo Chicken and Penne dish as much as I do!
Are the directions any different if you use regular penne instead of the pronto?
Hi Abbie, you might need to adjust the amount of liquid when using regular penne. I find that Pronto doesn’t require too much liquid for cooking, so with regular penne you might need to use an additional 1 to 2 cups of water or chicken broth.
Could you make this a day ahead? If so any tips or suggestions?
Hi April, you can cook the chicken ahead of time, but the rest (pasta and sauce) I would cook on the day of.
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