Description
Comfort meets elegance in this creamy chicken and corn pasta, blending southern charm with hearty home cooking. Savory chicken, sweet corn, and perfectly cooked pasta combine into a delightful meal that welcomes you to indulge in pure culinary satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast (or thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or your favorite)
- 1 cup corn (fresh, frozen, or canned and drained)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese (for extra creaminess)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook pasta al dente according to package guidelines, then drain and reserve.
- Protein Searing: In a spacious skillet, heat olive oil over medium flame. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika, then sauté until golden and thoroughly cooked. Transfer chicken to a separate plate.
- Vegetable Infusion: Using the same skillet, introduce garlic and corn, sautéing until fragrant and slightly caramelized.
- Sauce Composition: Reduce heat to medium-low, incorporating heavy cream, chicken broth, Parmesan, and cream cheese. Simmer gently, stirring continuously until the sauce transforms into a silky, luxurious consistency.
- Protein Reunion: Reintroduce the seared chicken into the sauce, ensuring even distribution and thorough coating.
- Final Integration: Fold in the prepared pasta, gently tossing to marry all components. Allow the mixture to simmer briefly, enabling flavors to meld and pasta to absorb the creamy essence.
- Serving Presentation: Transfer to serving dishes, optionally garnishing with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- Ensure chicken is cut into uniform pieces for even cooking and golden browning. Pat chicken dry before seasoning to achieve better caramelization and prevent steaming.
- Continuously stir cream-based sauce to prevent scorching and achieve smooth texture. If sauce becomes too thick, gradually add small amounts of chicken broth to thin.
- Add Parmesan and cream cheese off direct heat to prevent separation. Stir gently until completely incorporated for a silky, luxurious sauce.
- Allow pasta to simmer briefly in sauce to absorb flavors and eliminate excess liquid. This step enhances overall dish richness and prevents watery results.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg