Last Bite Chicken Pasta (Printable Version)

A creamy chicken pasta with vibrant vegetables and a hint of lemon zest for fresh, comforting flavor.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 large chicken breast, diced (or 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded)

→ Pasta

02 - 10 oz dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or similar)

→ Vegetables

03 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1/2 cup frozen peas
05 - 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 cup zucchini, sliced
07 - 1/2 cup spinach, roughly chopped

→ Pantry Staples

08 - 2 tbsp olive oil
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
11 - 1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes (or tomato sauce)

→ Dairy

12 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
14 - 1/3 cup heavy cream

→ Garnish

15 - Fresh basil leaves
16 - Cracked black pepper

→ Finish

17 - Zest of 1 lemon

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until golden and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add garlic and bell pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant. Then add cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and Italian herbs. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Stir in canned diced tomatoes, peas, and spinach. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until vegetables are tender.
05 - Reduce heat and return cooked chicken to the skillet. Add heavy cream and half of the Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Stir continuously until cheese melts and sauce attains a creamy consistency.
06 - Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to combine, adding a splash of reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
07 - Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with remaining cheese, fresh basil, cracked black pepper, and lemon zest.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It turns random leftovers into something that tastes like you planned it all along.
  • The creamy, cheesy sauce makes even frozen peas feel indulgent.
  • You can swap almost any ingredient and it still works beautifully.
  • It cooks in one skillet after the pasta boils, so cleanup is mercifully quick.
02 -
  • Do not skip reserving the pasta water, it has starch that helps the sauce cling instead of sliding off.
  • Add the cream on low heat or it might break and turn grainy instead of silky.
  • If your vegetables release a lot of water, let it cook down a bit before adding the cream.
03 -
  • Use a mix of cheeses for more complex flavor, even a handful of cream cheese works if thats what you have.
  • Let the chicken rest for a minute after cooking so it stays juicy when you add it back to the sauce.
  • Taste before serving and adjust, sometimes it needs more salt, sometimes just a squeeze of lemon to wake everything up.
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