Heavenly Chicken and Mushroom Pasta with Creamy Sauce (Print version)

Tender chicken, golden mushrooms, pasta, garlic, cream, and Parmesan tossed into a cozy skillet dinner.

# Ingredients:

For the pasta

01 - 12 oz (340 g) fettuccine, penne, or rotini
02 - 1 tablespoon kosher salt, for the pasta water
03 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) reserved pasta water

For the chicken and mushrooms

04 - 1 lb (450 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
05 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
06 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
08 - 8 oz (225 g) cremini mushrooms, sliced
09 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

For the creamy sauce

10 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 3/4 cup (180 ml) heavy cream
12 - 1/2 cup (50 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
14 - Extra Parmesan, for serving

# Instructions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente, then reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain.
02 - Pat the chicken dry and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and the black pepper. Dry chicken browns faster and stays juicier.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken in a single layer for 5-7 minutes, turning once, until golden and cooked to 165°F. Transfer to a plate.
04 - Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Add the mushrooms and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring only a few times, until browned and tender. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds.
05 - Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up the browned bits from the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in the heavy cream, then add Parmesan gradually until smooth and lightly thickened.
06 - Return the chicken and pasta to the skillet. Toss with parsley and enough reserved pasta water to make the sauce glossy. Taste and add the remaining salt as needed. Serve hot with extra Parmesan.

# Good to know:

01 - Best served immediately while the sauce is glossy.
02 - Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce.
03 - Cook chicken to 165°F for food safety.

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