Creamy Mushroom Chicken Pasta (Print Version)

Tender chicken and mushrooms in a rich creamy sauce served over perfectly cooked pasta.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lb), cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Vegetables

02 - 9 oz cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, plus extra for garnish

→ Dairy & Liquids

06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream
09 - 1/4 cup chicken broth
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pasta

11 - 12 oz fettuccine or linguine

→ Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then cook until golden and no longer pink inside, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from skillet and keep warm.
03 - In the same skillet, add remaining olive oil and butter. Sauté onions and mushrooms until softened and lightly browned, around 6 to 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
04 - Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and dried Italian herbs. Cook until sauce thickens slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
05 - Return chicken to the skillet and simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes to meld flavors. If needed, loosen sauce with reserved pasta water.
06 - Add drained pasta to skillet and toss to coat with sauce. Stir in chopped parsley. Serve immediately garnished with additional parsley and Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The sauce achieves that luxurious restaurant texture without any complicated techniques or fancy ingredients
  • Everything comes together in one skillet while the pasta boils, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want comfort food without the fuss
02 -
  • The sauce thickens quickly as it cools, so do not be afraid to keep it slightly looser than you think you need it, that pasta water is your secret weapon for adjusting consistency at any point
  • Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly and is less likely to curdle, so take it out of the fridge while you prep everything else
03 -
  • Pat your mushrooms dry with paper towels before cooking so they brown properly instead of steaming in their own moisture
  • Grate your own Parmesan cheese rather than buying pre-grated, it melts better and the flavor difference is remarkable
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