Creamy Mushroom Chicken Pasta with Red Pepper - pasta in a creamy, garlicky sauce with slices of juicy chicken, mushrooms, and red peppers. A quick and easy pasta dish full of amazing flavor. Ready in under 30 minutes.
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Mushroom Chicken Pasta is a family favorite
Pasta is my go-to dish when I want a quick and easy dinner that the whole family loves. And nothing satisfies a carb craving like a big bowl of creamy, garlicky pasta with chicken. Flavored with mushrooms, red bell peppers, and parmesan – a wonderful combination. It’s definitely a family favorite!
What’s my secret to amazing pasta dishes?
It starts off with a good quality, al dente pasta. Next is my garlicky cream sauce that’s a base for many of my pasta sauces. It’s seasoned perfectly with garlic, cream, and parmesan – that umami flavor bomb. The real secret? Flavor combinations that perfectly balance each other.
In this case, I wanted a mushroom pasta. What pairs well with mushroom? Definitely butter and cream. And for delicious depth of flavor that complements the mushrooms, to scent the sauce, and add color and texture: red bell peppers and a sprinkling of thyme and parsley. Thyme adds an earthy, woodsy flavor. Parsley adds a bright, fresh flavor.
How to make Mushroom Chicken Pasta
For quicker, more even cooking, slightly flatten breasts with a kitchen mallet. If they are very thick, slice them in half horizontally before flattening. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté chicken breasts in a little oil until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan and slice. Skinless, boneless chicken thighs work great in this recipe, too.
Add remaining tablespoon oil to pan. Add onions and cook until softened. Add mushrooms and cook until golden brown. Add the red pepper and garlic, stir, and cook for about 2 minutes.
Deglaze pan with water and bouillon cube, scraping bottom to release any bits sticking to the bottom of the pan. Add cream and thyme. Bring to a simmer. Let simmer 2-3 minutes then turn off heat. Add parmesan slowly, whisking constantly until melted. Salt and pepper to taste. I like to add the sliced chicken to the sauce so it gets good and covered with sauce.
Sprinkle with parsley, then toss with pasta.
Recipe
Creamy Mushroom Chicken Pasta with Red Pepper and Thyme
Ingredients
- 1 lb penne 500g or other pasta (cooked until al dente and tossed with 2 tablespoons butter)
- 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
- 1 lb chicken breasts (or boneless, skinless thighs) 500g
- 1 medium onion chopped
- ½ lb mushrooms sliced (250g)
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 5 cloves garlic minced fine
- 1 chicken bouillon cube
- 1 cup water (8oz, 227g)
- 1 ¼ cups heavy cream (10oz, 283g)
- ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese (3oz, 85g)
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- For quicker, more even cooking, slightly flatten breasts with a kitchen mallet. If they are very thick, slice them in half horizontally before flattening. Season with salt and pepper.
- Heat a skillet over high heat. When pan is hot, add 1 tablespoon oil.
- When oil is hot, put chicken in pan and cook until golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Remove chicken from pan and slice.
- Add remaining tablespoon oil to pan. Add onions and cook until softened.
- Add mushrooms and cook until golden brown.
- Add the red pepper and garlic, stir, and cook for about 2 minutes.
- Deglaze pan with water and bouillon cube, scraping bottom to release any bits sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Add cream and thyme. Bring to a simmer. Let simmer 2-3 minutes then turn off heat.
- Add parmesan slowly, whisking constantly until melted.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Add sliced chicken and parsley to sauce, then toss with pasta.
- Serve.
Notes
- You can use white or yellow onions.
- Feel free to use white or cremini or a mix of mushrooms.
Nutrition
Enjoy, friends!
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Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
Totally Delicious! I love this dish - it's gorgeous and so tasty! Nicely done!!!
Kelly
It's definitely one of our family favorites! Thanks so much, Kathy!
2pots2cook
It is perfect under 30 minutes week dinner but also super key words :-):-)
Kelly
Haha! Thanks so much, Davorka!
Liz
This looks perfect for our weeknight dinner rotation! Bill won't eat mushrooms, but I happily eat his share! What an irresistible pasta dish!
Kelly
It's delicious! Even without the mushrooms! When I have an ingredient that not everyone likes (happens all to often with five kids!), I add them in in bigger slices so they're easier to pick out! Thanks so much, Liz!
Leanne @ Crumb Top Baking
Loving your photography here Kelly! The pasta looks both delicious and beautiful! This is certainly a go-to dinner for busy weeknights!
Kelly
We love it! Thanks so much, Leanne!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Gimme ALL the creamy pasta!! This looks absolutely delicious, Kelly! I love all the ingredients and flavors happening here! And, I obviously adore that it's so quick and easy to make! This is the perfect meal! Pinned!
Kelly
I could eat this pasta every night! thanks so much, Chey!
marcie
This is such a delicious pasta dinner -- it's filled with ingredients that I love! This would be great for weeknights and elegant enough for entertaining too!
Kelly
The flavors go so well together and make it a really wonderful dish! Thanks so much, Marcie!
Valentina
Kelly, you had me at "garlicky." 😀 Nothing like a quick, easy and super delicious crowd pleaser!
Kelly
Definitely a family fave! Thanks so much, Valentina!
John / Kitchen Riffs
Great looking dish -- loads of flavor, and pretty healthy. Really satisfying -- and fast to make! My kind of dish. 🙂 Thanks!
Kelly
It's definitely a family favorite! Thanks so much, John!
David Scott Allen
Kelly. Every photo is gorgeous, but the one that stopped me in my tracks was the one of the perfectly seared chicken breasts! Brava! Lovely dish.
Kelly
I'm with you, David! Makes me want grab one and make a sandwich! Thanks so much!
sheenam @ thetwincookingproject
Oh that looks genuinely creamy and delicious!!!! Love mushroom and chicken - totally trying this recipe Kelly.
Kelly
It's a wonderful combination! Thanks so much, Sheenam!
David @ Spiced
Pasta is one of our go-to meals, too, Kelly. This Mushroom Chicken Pasta looks absolutely delicious! It looks so creamy and packed with flavor. I would gladly eat this tonight for dinner...heck, I think I could eat this one every.single.night this week! You're talking my kinda language with these flavors. (That's nothing new, though...I'm pretty sure we have the exact same preferences in tastes!) 🙂
Kelly
David, I'm pretty sure we do! Everything you make is exactly what I want to be eating! Thanks so much!
angiesrecipes
My mouth is watering...haven't had any pasta in a while and this one really has me drool. Thanks for sharing another great recipe, Kelly.
Kelly
Pasta is my go-to for an easy and delicious meal. Thanks so much, Angie!
Masehlomeng
Just tried this recipe, FANTASTIC!!!
Kelly
So happy you liked it! Thanks so much!
sherry
yes these are fabulous flavours together. chicken and mushies are a match made in heaven. cheers sherry
Kelly
We love it! Thanks so much, Sherry!
Cookie Monster
This is one of my favorites
Kelly
Thanks so much, Cookie Monster!
Marissa
I love easy, elegant flavorful pasta dishes like this! Simple enough for a weeknight, special enough to be the star of a dinner party or date night!
Kelly
Simple yet elegant pasta is my fave! Thanks so much, Marissa!