Description
A creamy and zesty pasta dish featuring tender chicken breast, sharp cheddar cheese, and smoky Tex Mex spices. A satisfying one-pot style meal perfect for families.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1.5 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the penne pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken cubes and sear until golden brown on all sides. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add smoked paprika and ground cumin to the skillet. Stir for 30 seconds to toast the spices.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until completely melted and smooth.
- Return the cooked chicken and pasta to the skillet. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated and heated through.
- Season with salt and pepper, then garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex Mex Fusion