Description
Creamy mushroom and asparagus chicken penne is the perfect blend of savory, creamy, and fresh. With tender chicken, sautéed mushrooms, crisp asparagus, and rich cream sauce tossed over penne, it’s a comforting dish that’s easy enough for weeknights and impressive enough for guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, sliced
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1–2 inch pieces
- 1 cup mushrooms (Baby Bella, cremini, or a mix), sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream or half & half
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- 1/2 lb (about 225g) penne pasta
- Fresh thyme or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the penne pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté chicken until golden and cooked through. Remove from skillet.
- In the same skillet, add more oil if needed and sauté mushrooms until browned. Add asparagus and shallots, cooking until asparagus is crisp-tender.
- Return chicken to the skillet. Lower heat and stir in garlic until fragrant.
- Pour in cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in Parmesan gradually, letting it melt into a smooth sauce.
- If sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
- Add the cooked penne and toss everything together. Let simmer for 1–2 minutes for flavors to meld.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
Use a mix of mushrooms for depth, and don’t overcrowd the pan while sautéing. To make it lighter, substitute light cream or use zucchini noodles instead of pasta.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 110mg