One pot chicken pasta is the kind of easy, comforting dinner that brings everything together in a single pot for a simple weeknight favorite.
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Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Why Make It: The pasta cooks in the sauce, so there is less dishes and it comes together in less than 30 minutes.
- Flavor: Creamy, garlicky, and rich with chicken, tomatoes, and cheesy pasta.
- Swaps: Add spinach at the end or use leftover cooked chicken to make it quicker.
- Time-Saver: Use pre-diced onion, pre-shredded cheese if needed, and leftover cooked chicken for even faster prep.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve with garlic bread, a crisp salad, or roasted broccoli.
Chicken Pasta Ingredients
- Chicken: Cut the chicken breast into small, even pieces so it cooks quickly and stays tender. Chicken thighs also work. For an easier option, use rotisserie chicken.
- Italian Seasoning: Use a store-bought version or try a homemade mix. For a spicier kick, add a dash of red pepper flakes or swap it for Cajun seasoning.
- Diced Tomatoes: Be sure to drain the tomatoes, so the sauce stays thick and not watery. For a deeper flavor add fire-roasted tomatoes.
- Pasta: Most pasta works, but shorter pasta is better. Penne can be replaced with ziti, rotini, or shells.
- Cheese: Mozzarella gives that stretchy, melty top that everyone loves. It can be replaced with provolone or an Italian blend.
One Pot, Start To Finish
- Season and cook chicken in large pot. Set aside.
- Sauté onion and garlic, and then add broth, tomatoes, cream, parsley, and seasoning.
- Add pasta and simmer until cooked.
- Add parmesan cheese and cooked chicken. Top with mozzarella, then broil (full recipe below).
Save It For Later
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of broth, milk, or cream to loosen the sauce.
Easy Pasta Nights On Repeat
Did you enjoy this One Pot Chicken Pasta Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- salt and black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ medium onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups chicken broth + ½ cup extra if needed
- 14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes drained, 1 can
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 12 ounces penne or medium pasta
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese divided
- ⅔ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Season chicken with salt & pepper. Heat olive oil over medium heat and cook chicken until no pink remains. Set aside.
- Add onion and garlic to the pan. Cook until onion is tender, about 3 minutes.
- Add 3 cups broth, tomatoes, cream, parsley, and Italian seasoning and bring to a boil. Add pasta. Let simmer for about 15 minutes or until tender and thickened. If you need, add ½ cup broth till pasta is cooked. Mix in ¼ cup parmesan cheese.
- Add the chicken back to skillet, top with mozzarella cheese and remaining ¼ cup parmesan, then broil 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Entree
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Made this exactly as written. I thought this was really good! I wonder how it would be if I switched out the Italian seasoning for Cajun seasoning.
We haven’t tried it but would love to hear how it turns out, Lee!
Don’t let the ease with which this dish is assembled fool you. Creamy, flavorful comfort food. The combination of cream, tomatoes and cheese bring this pasta dish to the top of my list of favorites.
So happy you loved it, Tina!
Made this for dinner, it was delicious. The skeptics in the house initially looked at it with a raised eyebrow… but after giving it chance, asked for seconds. Easy, quick and full of flavor. It’s a keeper!
Thank you again for a spectacular recipe! I had to do my normal tweaks during to family preference
I added more parmesan and mozzarella, left out tomatoes, added chicken bouillon and seasoned with spices I had on hand. New family favorite! Will probably figure out how to lower the sodium next time around.
FYI: USE A LARGE PAN!!
Great family recipe and so easy to make (super easy clean up too ). The added bonus is the good comments from folks who suggest various vegetables to add to make a complete meal. Thanks – love your recipes.
So glad you enjoyed it, Kim!
Our family has been using this recipe since you put it on your site. Says August 2019, but it seems like we’ve eaten this forever! Definitely on our rotation schedule along with 2 of our daughters households. The grandkids ask for it – its their favorite!! I go ahead and use the whole 16 oz box of pasta, whole carton of broth and 1/2 cup more cream, little extra seasoning etc. to stretch a little further. Also I add broccoli to it. Thank you for posting this and giving us another fantastic recipe to go off of! The taste is phenomenal! If we can’t think of something for dinner – we’ll see if its been long enough to have this again. LOL
You’re very welcome Peggy! I love hearing when people enjoy recipes so much!
How do you add the broccoli. Do you steam it a little first or just raw?
Hi Kristel, you could steam and add in step 4 or you could toss in halfway through step 3 to let it simmer with the other ingredients.
I add the broccoli half way through step 3. When you’re simmering for 15 min, I throw it in after about 8 min. I like to use the easiest ways possible. Its delicious and everyone of our family wants the broccoli added!
It looks like there tomato paste in the picture?
Yes Cassie, you can add 1-2 Tablespoons of tomato paste. Enjoy!
Thank you for the recipe! It’s a good one. I made half and added half of a 10 oz. box of thawed, drained frozen spinach.
You’re welcome Terri!
Is there something I can use to substitute the cream? I’d love to try this recipe but don’t have any cream at the moment .
Canned evaporated milk might work. If not, you could try a little bit of melted cream cheese. Let us know how it works out!
If i want to make it for 8 people instead of 4, should i just double everything in the recipe? It looks wonderful!
I haven’t tried it but doubling the recipe should work just fine. You may or may not need the extra broth.
I love your recipes. Do you have video’s for these.
Sorry Wendy, we don’t have a video for this recipe at this time. You can check our recipes that do have videos here though!
It’s super delicious!! Try it cold, we used the left overs as a cold pasta and it’s incredible!
Yum! Great idea Reese.
This is great!!! My family loved it. I added fresh spinach leaves and it added some beautiful color and extra nutrition.
WOW! This was absolutely delicious. I added a tad extra of the seasoning and added garlic powder to season my chicken in addition to salt and pepper. Husband says it’s a “for sure make again”. Very easy but you’d never know by the flavor.
It was delicious. very easy to make. Definitely would make again. Needs the parmesan for taste.
So happy you enjoyed it Lynnmp!
I love your recipes.
Thanks BJ!
Holly any idea how glutenfree pasta might work in this..? May just need to cook separate which would just be a shame! Thanks for info
Hi DM, we have only made this recipe as listed. But if you want to try making it all in pot, I would try adding the gf pasta closer to the end. Gluten-free pasta often doesn’t need as long to cook, so check the instructions for the kind you are using and add it in closer to that required cooking time! Let us know how it turns out!
Can i replace the tomatoes with tomato sauce or paste or something other than tomatoes? if there is any sign of tomatoes, my kids won’t eat it!
While I haven’t tried it I would suggest tomato sauce. You may need to adjust the amount of liquid needed (just add until the pasta is tender). Let us know how it goes!
Looks great, Holly..!!
Thank you!! Enjoy!
Really realy lovely food ever I had. So easy to make definitely making again
Thanks Catherine! We are glad to hear you loved it!
I see zucchini in the picture but there’s none in the recipe . . .
Thanks for catching that Meredith!
Love the cooking idea’s. great site
Thank you Dave! So glad you’re enjoying the ideas?