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Chicken Pasta Primavera

Chicken Pasta Primavera

The ultimate comfort food, Chicken Pasta Primavera combines creamy, savory chicken and colorful seasonal vegetables in a delightful pasta dish. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe is not only easy to make but also a hit with the whole family. Make it tonight and experience the joy of a homemade meal!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 400

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup fat free milk
  • 1/3 cup fresh grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
  • 1/3 cup 1/3 less fat cream cheese recommend Philadelphia
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
  • olive oil spray
  • Kosher salt and fresh pepper
  • 6 ounces fresh thin asparagus ends trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 1/2 cups slow-sodium chicken broth
  • 8 ounces bow tie pasta or other cut pasta, wheat or gluten-free
  • 2 medium leeks cleaned and white and light green parts thinly sliced
  • 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts drained, rinsed, and quartered if necessary
  • 1 cup frozen peas no need to thaw
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil

Equipment

  • Frying Pan
  • Blender
  • Large Pot
  • Saucepan
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Grater
  • Chef's Knife
  • Wooden Spoon

Method
 

  1. In a small blender, combine milk, grated cheese, and cream cheese and set aside.
  2. Season chicken with cajun seasoning.
  3. Heat a large pot over high heat. When the pan is very hot, spray it with oil and add the chicken, season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook, spreading it in a single layer on high heat until the bottom browns, about 3 minutes, then flip to cook the other side until the chicken is browned on all sides and cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
  4. Add a splash of the broth and scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the remaining broth, cream cheese mixture, the pasta, and leeks. Stir to combine and bring to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally to help the pasta cook evenly, for 15 minutes.
  5. Taste the pasta and if it’s not al dente, or there is still a lot of liquid at the bottom of the pot, cover and cook for another minute and check again.
  6. When the pasta is ready, add the asparagus and artichokes, gently stir, and cover. Cook until the asparagus is crisp-tender, the pasta is tender, and the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 3 minutes.
  7. Uncover and add the chicken and any juices that have accumulated and the peas and stir to combine. Cook just for about 30 seconds to warm the peas through.
  8. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil. Serve with more parmesan cheese, for passing.

Notes

  • Protein: Substitute chicken with shrimp. Or omit to keep it vegetarian.
  • Seasoning: If you don’t have cajun seasoning, use onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne.
  • Broth: Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth.
  • Herbs: Replace basil with chives or tarragon.