Quick and easy chicken pasta dinner for busy weeknights

During the week, we all dream of a quick and delicious dinner that doesn't require hours in the kitchen. Especially after a long day at work, we often lack the energy and time for complex dishes. In such situations, an ideal solution is chicken pasta—a simple, hearty, and flavorful dish that you can make in the blink of an eye.

When work and home duties consume most of our time, quick and tasty meals become a savior in the daily hustle and bustle. One of these meals is chicken pasta. It's the perfect idea for a quick dinner that you can prepare in just 30 minutes, and it will delight the whole family with its taste.

Pasta with chicken is one of those dishes that easily fits into a busy schedule. Working full-time, I often spend weekends planning meals for the coming week. This way, I ensure I have all the necessary ingredients and know when I can afford to prepare a fresh dinner after work.

Ingredients:  

• 10 ounces of penne pasta or other thick pasta
• 2 boneless chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• 1.7 ounces of butter
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 cup of heavy cream (30%)
• 1.7 ounces of grated Parmesan
• salt
• pepper
• parsley

1. Clean and rinse the chicken breasts and pat dry. Cut them into strips or cubes, then season with salt and pepper. Sear the chicken in oil until lightly golden, then remove from the pan.
2. In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add salt. Add the pasta. Cook it a minute less than the package instructions recommend. This way, it will be perfectly al dente when you combine it with the sauce.
3. Melt the butter in a large pan. Add minced garlic and sauté for half a minute until it releases its aroma. Then, pour in the cream and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat, add most of the grated cheese, and stir until the cheese melts. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Next, add the seared chicken pieces to the sauce. Reserve about half a cup of the pasta cooking water and set it aside. Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce in the pan. Mix thoroughly, heating everything for 1-2 minutes. You can thin the sauce with the reserved pasta cooking water if it is too thick.
5. Divide the finished chicken pasta onto plates. Sprinkle the dish with the remaining Parmesan and freshly chopped parsley.

Additional Tips:

• You can add other vegetables to the sauce, such as broccoli, bell peppers, or mushrooms.
• Instead of Parmesan, you can use other yellow cheeses, such as cheddar or gouda.
• You can serve chicken pasta with a fresh vegetable salad.