Last Bite Chicken Pasta (Printable Version)

Quick and creamy chicken pasta with fresh veggies, perfect for a satisfying meal using pantry staples.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 large chicken breast, diced (or 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded)

→ Pasta

02 - 10 ounces dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or similar)

→ Vegetables

03 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1/2 cup frozen peas
05 - 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 cup zucchini, sliced
07 - 1/2 cup spinach, roughly chopped

→ Pantry Staples

08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
11 - 1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes (or tomato sauce)

→ Dairy

12 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
14 - 1/3 cup heavy cream

→ Garnish

15 - Fresh basil leaves
16 - Cracked black pepper

→ Finish

17 - Zest of 1 lemon

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente following package instructions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic and diced bell pepper for 2 minutes until fragrant.
04 - Stir in halved cherry tomatoes, sliced zucchini, and dried Italian herbs. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add canned diced tomatoes, frozen peas, and chopped spinach. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until vegetables are tender.
06 - Return cooked chicken to skillet. Lower heat and stir in heavy cream, half of the Parmesan, and half of the mozzarella until cheeses melt and sauce thickens.
07 - Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
08 - Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve garnished with remaining cheeses, fresh basil leaves, cracked black pepper, and lemon zest.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It teaches you to cook confidently with what you have instead of always needing an exact shopping list.
  • The flavor comes together in under 40 minutes, which means weeknight dinner without the stress.
  • Every bite has a different texture—creamy sauce, tender pasta, vegetables with a bit of bite, and that unexpected brightness from lemon zest.
02 -
  • Don't skip reserving the pasta water; it's the secret to a sauce that clings to the pasta instead of separating into a greasy puddle.
  • Add the cream at a lower temperature—if your pan is still sizzling, the cream can separate and look broken rather than silky.
  • The lemon zest at the end isn't decoration; it cuts through the richness and makes the entire dish feel lighter and brighter than it actually is.
03 -
  • Don't walk away once you've added the pasta to the skillet; stir constantly so the sauce coats every piece evenly.
  • Fresh lemon zest tastes entirely different from dried; invest in a microplane grater and it becomes your secret weapon in the kitchen.
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