Description
This Quick and Easy 15 Minute Chicken Pasta Recipe combines tender strips of sautéed chicken with vibrant vegetables and a rich marinara sauce, all tossed with perfectly cooked pasta and melted cheese. Perfect for a fast weeknight dinner, this dish is flavorful, comforting, and ready in just a quarter of an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 2 chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1/2 bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup marinara sauce
Pasta and Cheese
- 1.5 cups dry pasta (yields approx. 3 cups cooked)
- 1/2 cup mozzarella or Italian blend cheese
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of salted water to a boil. Add 1.5 cups of uncooked pasta along with 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and allow to cook for 10 minutes until al dente.
- Prepare the Chicken and Vegetables: While the pasta cooks, cut the chicken breasts into strips and chop the onion and bell pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a heavy-duty pan or pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and sauté for 1-2 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds until lightly golden. Then add the chicken strips along with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Sauté until the chicken is browned and nearly cooked through.
- Simmer with Sauce: Pour the marinara sauce over the chicken mixture. Cover the pan and let it simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the chicken to finish cooking.
- Combine Pasta and Cheese: Once the pasta is cooked, drain the water and add the pasta directly into the pan with the chicken and sauce mixture. Stir well to combine. Sprinkle the mozzarella or Italian blend cheese over the top, then turn off the heat so the cheese melts from residual warmth. For a bubbly cheese topping, optionally place the pan under a broiler for a few minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Top with Parmesan cheese if desired, and serve immediately while warm and delicious.
Notes
- Use any short pasta such as penne, rotini, or fusilli for best results.
- For extra veggies, add mushrooms or spinach in step 2.
- Broiling the cheese is optional but adds a lovely golden crust.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: thirty four g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
