Description
Indulge in a comforting meal with creamy Velveeta chicken penne in a garlic butter parmesan sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 12 oz penne pasta
- Salted water for boiling
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 0.25 tsp ground white pepper
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 0.25 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- A pinch of red pepper flakes
- Extra parmesan cheese for garnish
- More parsley or basil for garnish
- Cracked black pepper for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Start by ensuring your chicken thighs are thoroughly dried using paper towels. Rub the spice blend generously onto both sides of the chicken thighs.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet and sear the chicken for about 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked. Set aside to rest.
- Cook the Penne: Bring salted water to a boil, add the penne pasta, and cook until al dente. Reserve half a cup of pasta water before draining.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, pour in milk, and whisk gently. Gradually add cubed Velveeta, whisking until smooth and creamy. Incorporate Dijon mustard and white pepper.
- Create the Garlic Butter Parmesan Drizzle: Melt butter in the skillet, add minced garlic and sauté. Stir in grated parmesan, chopped parsley, and red pepper flakes.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add drained penne to the creamy Velveeta sauce, tossing gently. Add reserved pasta water if needed.
- Serve It Up: Slice chicken and arrange over pasta. Drizzle with garlic butter parmesan mixture and garnish with extra parmesan, parsley, and cracked black pepper.
Notes
Perfect for a quick weeknight meal and can be customized with various proteins and vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
Nutrition
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Protein: 30 g