35 Min - Chicken Parmesan Pasta

This 35 Min - Chicken Parmesan Pasta delivers a comforting, family-friendly meal in just over half an hour, bringing you all the flavors of classic chicken parmesan in a fraction of the time.

35 Min - Chicken Parmesan Pasta

When you want a comforting, restaurant-quality meal but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, this 35 Min - Chicken Parmesan Pasta is the ultimate answer. This recipe packs juicy, seared chicken pieces and tender penne pasta into a rich, garlic-infused tomato cream sauce.

Ready from start to finish in just over half an hour, this 35 Min - Chicken Parmesan Pasta gives you all the cozy, savory goodness of traditional chicken parmesan without the intensive prep or cleanup.

• Prep time: 15 minutes

• Cook time: 20 minutes

• Total time: 35 minutes

• Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 8 oz (225g) penne pasta

• 2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 small yellow onion, finely diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

• A handful of fresh chopped parsley, for garnish

Instructions

1. Boil the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, making sure to reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water for the sauce later.

2. Sear the Chicken: While your pasta water heats up, warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken chunks generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Add them to the skillet and sear for about 5–6 minutes until they are golden brown and fully cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.

3. Sauté the Aromatics: Lower the skillet heat to medium. In the same pan with the leftover juices, toss in the diced onion. Cook for 3–4 minutes until soft and translucent, then stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for just another minute until the kitchen smells incredible.

4. Simmer the Tomato Base: Pour the crushed tomatoes into the skillet. Stir everything together and let it simmer gently on medium-low for about 5 minutes so the flavors can deepen.

5. Make it Rich and Creamy: Pour in the heavy cream and add the grated Parmesan cheese. Stir continuously on low heat until the cheese melts completely, turning the sauce a beautiful, velvety orange color.

6. Toss it Together: Add the cooked penne and the seared chicken back into the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta is completely coated in the luxurious sauce. If the sauce looks a little too thick, splash in a bit of that reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.

7. Garnish and Dig In: Spoon your freshly made 35 Min - Chicken Parmesan Pasta into bowls. Top with plenty of extra parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley. Serve hot!