Hi everyone, did you have a nice weekend? Ben was out of town so it was just me and the little guy. We met my Mom at the mall for lunch and shopping on Saturday, then I finally got that run in on Sunday – whee!
To be honest, I was this close to bailing. I was so full after recipe testing all afternoon but the Olympics that were on in the background motivated me to get off my butt. I figured if the cross country skiers in Sochi could ski, um, UPHILL for over an hour (seriously who was the deranged soul that first said, “Hey! Let’s see how fast we can ski the wrong way!”) I could make a 35 minute workout happen…so I did! It’s amazing how a 3 mile run can make you feel like such a productive member of society. Can’t wait for more (though it might be a couple of days – I’m so sore already!)
Well, today I’m this excited to share the recipe for Creamy Chicken Pasta with you. It’s a spinoff of my Creamy Garlic Shells, the homemade version of the popular pasta sides packets you’ll find at the grocery store. As much as I used to love me some garlic pasta packets – I absolutely INHALED the creamy chicken ones in college. Like, with a vengeance.
They were cheap, easy, and delicious, but full of some really funky ingredients. Well guess what? My homemade version is just as cheap, easy, and delicious, plus it’s funky ingredient-free!
Pasta and chopped veggies simmer in a luxurious sauce to make a creamy (yet cream-free!) side dish that’s perfect to pair with any weeknight meal. You will LOVE this easy side, plus I bet you already have every single ingredient on hand. Huzzah!
Start by breaking up 8oz gluten-free or regular fettuccine noodles. The pasta in the chicken pasta packets are wide like fettuccine, but short, so I mimicked the shape by snapping handfuls of the noodles in half, then the halves into thirds. If you don’t want to go to the trouble (it seriously took me under a minute though,) I’d at least break them into quarters.
Drop the pasta into a big pot of salted, boiling water then cook until it’s just under al dente, as the pasta will continue to cook a bit in the sauce at the end. Drain then set aside.
Meanwhile, melt 2 Tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat then add 1 chopped small carrot (about 1/3 cup,) 1 chopped rib celery (about 1/3 cup too,) and 1 chopped small shallot. Season with salt and pepper then saute until tender, 5-7 minutes.
Next, sprinkle in 2 Tablespoons gluten-free or all-purpose flour then cook while whisking for 1 minute.
Now slowly stream in 1 cup each milk and chicken broth while whisking to avoid lumps. I’ve made this dish using both skim and 2% milk, so just use whatever you’ve got in the fridge!
Add 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley and more salt and pepper then turn the heat up to medium-high until bubbling.
Turn the heat back down to medium then cook until the sauce is thickened and bubbly, about 5 minutes, whisking occasionally.
Finally, add the drained pasta to the sauce then stir to combine and cook for a couple more minutes to let the noodles finish cooking. Note: the sauce will continue to thicken as it cools so make sure you don’t let it get too thick, otherwise it will turn pasty!
Serve the Creamy Chicken Pasta as a side dish with any dinner!
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Creamy Chicken Pasta (No Pasta Packet Required!)
Description
Gluten-free Creamy Chicken Pasta tastes just like the store-bought Chicken Pasta Sides packet - without the funky ingredients!
Ingredients
- 8oz gluten-free or regular fettuccine
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 small carrot, minced (about 1/3 cup)
- 1 rib celery, minced (about 1/3 cup)
- 1 small shallot or 1/2 small onion, minced
- salt and pepper
- 2 Tablespoons gluten-free or all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup milk (I've used skim and 2%)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
Directions
- Break fettuccine into sixths (I broke chunks of noodles in half then each half into thirds.) Cook pasta in a big pot of salted, boiling water until just under al dente - it will continue cooking in the sauce. Drain then set aside.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat then add carrot, celery, and shallot. Season with salt and pepper then saute until tender, 5-7 minutes. Sprinkle in flour then whisk and cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour in chicken broth and milk while whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Turn heat up to medium-high until bubbling then turn heat back down to medium, add parsley and more salt and pepper then cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and bubbly, 5 minutes.
- Add pasta to the sauce then stir to combine and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat. Sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
You will go back for forkful after forkful of this yummy, satisfying side. It’s almost like a quick version of chicken and noodles. Well, I guess that’s exactly what it is! ;) Enjoy, guys!
I made this tonight because we had a Costco rotisserie chicken and I wanted something simple. I used some of that yummy stuff in the bottom of the chicken container, with a little water to get about 3/4 cup. I only needed 4 oz. of linguini since there are only two of us, but I used 1/3 cup of each veg anyway. I didn’t have enough milk but I had some homemade creme fraiche so it made a nice substitute for milk – I only used maybe 1/4 cup and when it got a little too thick, so I splashed in a bit more stock. I didn’t drain the pasta – I just lifted it out of the water and into the sauce so a bit of pasta water helped keep it from “too thick.” This is simple and VERY tasty! My DH pronounced it “really good!” Thanks for another keeper!
love this recipe but i added broccoli to mine was amazing thak you
Would you be able to provide the flour/butter/broth/milk measurements in order to make this recipe with a 32 oz. pkg. of egg noodles? TIA.
This tasted amazing! Just like the packet, thank you so much! It’s a keeper, and my favorite thing is I had it all on hand.
Oops, I’m so sorry. I missed hitting the five star before I submitted the previous comment, but it’s definitely a five star.
[…] testing the recipe from Iowa Girl Eats. Click the link for all of the ingredients and […]
This is one of my staples! It’s so easy to make, I almost always have all of the ingredients on hand, and it’s delicious. I always add grilled or shredded chicken to make it a complete meal and add protein. It’s comfort food at its finest.
I’m so happy to find this recipe! I doubled it to make leftovers and added 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1/4 tsp. curry powder, and 2 pinches turmeric (for color and flavor). My son actually thought it was the store bought stuff, so this recipe was a success! We definitely will make it again!
This was DELICIOUS, and thats coming from a nauseous pregnant woman(nothing tastes good atm)! haha I added half a tablespoon of nutritional yeast (will try a whole Tbls. next time) and a pinch (1/16 tsp) of sage. I also used 1 Tbls. of cornstarch/cold water instead of flour, since I only had whole wheat flour on hand. :)
Ahh so glad I could soothe a fellow preggo’s nauseous soul!! ;) Love the addition of nutritional yeast – I’ll have to try that!
This looks delicious! My family loves the pasta packets also, so I can’t wait to try this. The chicken in the photo looks delicious also! Do you have the recipe for it? Thanks!
[…] Creamy Chicken Pasta […]
[…] Chicken Pasta, recipe from Iowa Girl Eats (serve w/ Grilled […]
This is a staple in our house! I have made it several times, and is even loved by my picky toddler. I use 1 1/2 cups of the broth and milk to make it a little creamier. I also stir in cooked shredded chicken to cook with the sauce a bit before adding in the pasta. Thank you for another great recipe!
I made a double batch based on the rave reviews. Mine does not taste like the Knorr product and is frankly kinda bland.
I looked at a package in the store. The missing flavors are cream cheese, white wine and turmeric. Well, there’s also sugar and various flavor enhancers, but I shall try just adding small amounts of the cheese, wine and spice.
Hey Jackie! Maybe you picked up a different package at the store? They package I looked at didn’t have those ingredients, though they do sound like they’d be delicious additions!
[…] Creamy Chicken Pasta (I chunk up the chicken and mix it in with the noodles), Mixed […]
This was delicious and tasted just like those Knorr packets, which are my favorite. Thank you!
[…] was adapted from here , she didn’t have garlic or parm in the original recipe. Glad that I love garlic and Matt loves […]