The Last Bite Chicken Pasta (Print Version)

A hearty one-pan pasta with chicken, fresh vegetables, and a creamy cheese sauce.

# 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 pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden and fully cooked, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add minced garlic and diced bell pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
04 - Add cherry tomatoes, zucchini slices, and dried Italian herbs. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Stir in canned diced tomatoes, frozen peas, and chopped spinach. Simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes until vegetables are tender.
06 - Return cooked chicken to the skillet. Pour in heavy cream and add half of the Parmesan and mozzarella. Stir until cheeses melt and sauce thickens.
07 - Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
08 - Season to taste. Serve immediately garnished with remaining cheeses, fresh basil leaves, cracked black pepper, and lemon zest.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It turns your random leftovers into something that feels intentional and restaurant-worthy.
  • The 5-4-3-2-1 formula makes it impossible to mess up, even when youre improvising.
  • Youll use up those mystery vegetables before they turn into science experiments.
  • The creamy, cheesy sauce ties everything together so well that no one will guess it was a pantry rescue mission.
02 -
  • Dont skip reserving the pasta water, it has starch that helps the sauce cling to every piece of pasta.
  • If you add the cream while the heat is too high, it can break and look grainy instead of silky.
  • Let the chicken rest for a minute after cooking so it stays juicy when you toss it back in.
03 -
  • Grate your lemon zest right at the end so the oils stay fresh and fragrant.
  • Taste your pasta water before draining, if its not salty enough, your whole dish will taste flat.
  • Use a wooden spoon to toss the pasta so you dont break the noodles or scratch your pan.
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