Description
A delightful and colorful dish combining tender chicken and fresh vegetables tossed with pasta in a creamy sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 zucchini, sliced into half-moons
- 1 yellow squash, sliced into half-moons
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 10 oz penne or farfalle pasta
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)
- Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Cook the chicken: In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Sauté the chicken until it turns golden brown and fully cooked, about 5-6 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Sauté the garlic: In the same skillet, add more olive oil if necessary. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add the vegetables: Stir in the sliced red bell pepper, zucchini, yellow squash, and broccoli. Cook until tender yet still crisp, about 4-5 minutes.
- Combine chicken and tomatoes: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Make the sauce: Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour in the heavy cream and sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese and dried Italian herbs over the mixture. Toss and add some reserved pasta water until desired sauce consistency is reached.
- Season and serve: Adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and extra Parmesan. Serve immediately.
Notes
For added creaminess, adjust the amount of cream to your taste. Serve with a side salad and crusty bread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Chicken, Pasta, Primavera, Healthy Dinner, Quick Meal