Description
Say goodbye to boring weeknight meals—Garlic Butter Chicken Penne with Creamy Three-Cheese Sauce brings bold, comforting flavors right to your table. Juicy chicken seared in garlic butter is tossed with perfectly cooked penne pasta and smothered in a decadent three-cheese sauce made from cream cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Whether you're hunting for a cozy easy dinner, a crave-worthy comfort food idea, or a quick pasta recipe that doubles as a showstopper, this creamy chicken penne delivers in both taste and texture.
Ingredients
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (for chicken)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
12 ounces penne pasta
Water, for boiling
Salt, for pasta water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (for sauce)
1 cup heavy cream
0.5 cup cream cheese, cubed and softened
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
0.5 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
0.25 teaspoon garlic powder
0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
0.5 cup reserved pasta water
Chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Extra grated Parmesan (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
3. Add sliced chicken to the pan, season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Sauté until cooked through and golden brown, about 5–6 minutes. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Pour in heavy cream and warm through.
5. Stir in cream cheese until fully melted and smooth.
6. Add mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Stir continuously over low heat until cheese melts and sauce thickens.
7. Season sauce with garlic powder, crushed red pepper flakes (optional), salt, and pepper.
8. Stir in reserved pasta water a little at a time until desired sauce consistency is reached.
9. Add cooked chicken and drained pasta to the sauce. Toss gently until fully coated.
10. Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly grated cheese for a smoother sauce—pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as well.
Don’t skip reserving the pasta water—it helps emulsify the sauce and brings it all together.
Keep the heat low when adding cheese to prevent the sauce from breaking or becoming grainy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 590mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 21g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 165mg
Keywords: garlic butter chicken pasta, creamy penne, three cheese pasta, comfort food, easy dinner