Description
The Chicken Parmesan Pasta Skillet is a quick and comforting one-pan meal combining tender chicken, rich tomato sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta, all topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s ideal for busy weeknight dinners and packed with cheesy, savory flavors that the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
Chicken & Seasonings
- Boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Italian seasoning
- Fresh garlic cloves, minced
Cooking Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Tomato sauce
- Chicken broth
- Uncooked pasta (penne or rigatoni)
Cheese & Garnishes
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves, torn
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden brown and cooked through (5-7 minutes). Remove chicken and set aside.
- Sauté garlic and seasonings: In the same skillet, add more olive oil if needed and toss in minced garlic. Cook about 30 seconds until fragrant without burning. Stir in Italian seasoning to release the herbs’ flavors.
- Build the sauce and cook the pasta: Pour in tomato sauce and chicken broth, stir well and bring to gentle simmer. Add uncooked pasta directly into skillet, pushing it down to submerge. Cover and cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and liquid absorbed.
- Combine chicken and cheese: Return cooked chicken to skillet, stir into pasta and sauce. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan evenly over top. Cover and allow cheese to melt, about 3-5 minutes.
- Finish and garnish: Remove skillet from heat once cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with freshly torn basil leaves before serving.
Notes
- Choose short-cut pastas like penne or rigatoni to hold more sauce.
- Cook chicken in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding the skillet.
- Use freshly shredded mozzarella for better melting and creamier texture.
- Simmer sauce gently to prevent burning or sticking.
- Let dish rest off heat a few minutes for flavors to meld and cheese to set.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg