30 Quick and Easy Chicken Pasta Recipes

September 09, 2019
Photo: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Everybody likes chicken and everybody likes pasta—together, they make weeknight dinners a breeze. With speedy favorites like One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards and Quick Chicken Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato, consider tonight's meal handled. 
Start Slideshow

1 of 29

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Photo: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey
Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

 

One easy way to kick up the flavor in a dish is to add Cajun seasoning. Here, the seasoning is sprinkled on the chicken strips before they're sautéed and tossed into the linguine-vegetable mixture.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 29

Roasted Chicken and Bow Tie Pasta Salad

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell
Roasted Chicken and Bow Tie Pasta Salad Recipe

Use rotisserie chicken from the deli to cut preparation time on this chicken pasta salad recipe. Serve it for dinner tonight, and then pack the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

3 of 29

Tomato, Basil, and Chicken Pasta

Caitlin Bensel
Tomato, Basil, and Chicken Pasta Recipe

Think of this as a lighter, fresher take on chicken Parmesan: We ditch the breading on the poultry and let juicy cherry tomatoes stand in for jarred pasta sauce. A little grated carrot adds just enough sweetness to round out the acidity in the tomatoes. Mini balls of fresh mozzarella, also called ciliegine, melt just enough in the finished pasta so that the dish feels extra cheesy. This would also be delicious with cooked, crumbled Italian turkey sausage or with simply sauteed shrimp.

Advertisement

4 of 29

Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly
Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake Recipe

Cheese-filled tortellini and a chopped pecan topping add extra flavor to kid-friendly Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake, while broccoli and red bell pepper contribute pops of color throughout this one-dish meal.

5 of 29

Chicken Caprese Pasta

Linda Pugliese
Chicken Caprese Pasta Recipe

This dish is a great way to use up a bumper crop of tomatoes and herbs. Tender fresh linguine works well with the pesto, but you can use dried pasta as well.

6 of 29

Sautéed Chicken with Roasted Pepper Pasta

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Ginny Branch 
Sautéed Chicken with Roasted Pepper Pasta Recipe

If you can't find mozzarella pearls, dice a block of mozzarella.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 29

One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards

Photo: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards Recipe

Rather than boiling the noodles in a separate pot, we cooked them with the chicken stock and other ingredients. The starch from the pasta thickens the broth, making a surprisingly rich sauce without butter or cream.

8 of 29

Broccoli and Cheddar Chicken Pasta

Photo: Jennifer Causey
Broccoli and Cheddar Chicken Pasta Recipe

Instead of adding broccoli florets to the pasta, a double serving is incorporated into the creamy sauce. Heat the broccoli and sear the chicken while the pasta cooking water comes to a boil. The leaner dairy components create a creamy taste without all the added calories and fat or a typical broccoli and cheddar pasta dish.

9 of 29

Roast Chicken With Peas and Pasta

Photo: Romulo Yanes 
Roast Chicken With Peas and Pasta Recipe

For larger crowds, go ahead and buy the whole bird. Rasting a whole chicken isn't as daunting as it sounds. Bake at 350° for about 45 minutes, then turn up the heat to 450° right at the very end for added crisp-factor while boosting cooktime. Tip: Allow the chicken to stand at least 10 minutes before serving. This reduces the risk of the meat drying out.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 29

Speedy Spaghetti with Chicken and Fresh Tomato

Speedy Spaghetti with Chicken and Fresh Tomato Recipe

 

To make this easy pasta recipe, simply combine cooked spaghetti noodles with chopped cooked chicken, fresh tomato, basil, and goat cheese and toss with olive oil.   Serve with garlic bread for a simple dinner.

11 of 29

Easy Chicken Spaghetti

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Easy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Give your traditional chicken casserole a break and serve this bright and lively chicken spaghetti. You only need a Dutch oven and a 9-x-13 baking dish to create this delicious meal, meaning there is less clean-up afterwards. Cook and shred your chicken in advance to save time.

12 of 29

Pressure Cooker Chicken Spaghetti

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Pressure Cooker Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

This comforting and delicious Chicken Spaghetti is satisfying meal the entire family can get behind, and can be made with just a quick (and inexpensive) stop by the grocery store on your way home. Thanks to the pressure cooker, this recipe yields the flavor of a rich, long-simmered sauce in only 25 minutes. While browning the chicken and onions does help build flavor, it's OK to skip this step. Just add about 5 minutes to your cook time and discard the skin before adding your chicken to the pressure cooker. This dish is also easily adapted for your Instant Pot, click HERE for detailed instructions. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 29

Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti

Time Inc. Video Studio
Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

We adapted our simple and delicious Pressure Cooker Chicken Spaghetti recipe to be a perfect fit for your Instant Pot. It's sure to become a new weeknight favorite. 

14 of 29

Caramelized Onion, Mushroom and Chicken Penne

The Food Gays
Caramelized Onion, Mushroom and Chicken Penne Recipe

Creamy, cheesy, chicken pasta—what’s not to love? This cozy 25-minute meal from The Food Gays is sure to become your new go-to this Fall.

15 of 29

Penne and Chicken with Tomato Sauce

Photo: Lee Harrelson
Penne and Chicken with Tomato Sauce Recipe

Make this top-rated chicken pasta flavored with fennel and coriander in less than 40 minutes.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 29

Creamy Chicken Ravioli Lasagna 

Meredith Food Studios 
Creamy Chicken Ravioli Lasagna  Recipe

Rich, savory, and indulgent, this shortcut ravioli-lasagna hybrid is creamy and full of flavor. The pesto slightly cuts through the Alfredo sauce, and the combination tastes homemade. For more flavor, try using spinach ravioli. Nobody will ever know it’s made with convenience products like rotisserie chicken and jarred sauce. 

17 of 29

Chicken Tortellini Salad

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Chicken Tortellini Salad Recipe
This pasta salad with chicken and fresh vegetables makes a quick and delicious summer dinner and an even better lunch for the next day. Get a jump on meal planning and prep this recipe a day in advance. Make and refrigerate the basil vinaigrette (shake it well before dressing the salad).

18 of 29

Chicken, Tortellini, and Spinach Soup with Pesto

Photo: Colin Clark; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
Chicken, Tortellini, and Spinach Soup with Pesto Recipe

Diced tomato and a dollop of garlicky pesto add freshness and color to this quick chicken-pasta soup. Searing the chicken thighs first creates browned bits that add savory richness to the broth.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 29

Tortellini, Chicken, and Arugula Salad

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Tortellini, Chicken, and Arugula Salad Recipe

A bright, springtime salad that comes together in a cinch thanks to the use of a few quality convenience items. Hearty cheese tortellini, shredded rotisserie chicken, and peppery arugula join forces to create a light, yet filling, salad with plenty of texture and substance. Zippy lemon dressing adds welcomed vibrancy while shaved Parmesan adds a hit of salty, full-bodied flavor. Prepare the dressing and pasta ahead of time to make the final assembly even faster. For a gluten-free option, substitute the tortellini for brown rice pasta or quinoa. With minimal effort and maximum results, this simple salad will fit right into your weekday lunch or dinner lineup.

20 of 29

Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Orzo Salad

Kelsey Hansen
Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Orzo Salad Recipe

The grill is a healthy cook’s best friend, allowing you to build big flavor and crispiness with minimal added fat. Make this meal meatless by trading the chicken for steamed edamame or rinsed and drained black beans.

21 of 29

Quick Chicken Picatta with Parslied Orzo

Photography: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower
Quick Chicken Picatta with Parslied Orzo Recipe

Sautéed lemon slices intensify the flavors of the pan sauce and make a beautiful garnish. Cook the orzo while you bread the chicken; while the chicken cooks, spread the orzo on a baking sheet to cool and to keep the grains from sticking together.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 29

Chicken Piccata with Crispy Garlic

Photo: Jennifer Causey  
Chicken Piccata with Crispy Garlic Recipe

The bright, bracing tartness of fresh lemon and briny hit from capers makes this Italian dish a beloved classic. Garlic takes a starring role in this version: Slices infuse the oil for searing the chicken and become a golden, crispy garnish. We save time by opting for chicken cutlets (no need slice or flatten larger breasts) and angel hair pasta (even whole-grain noodles cook in less time than standard spaghetti). The flour coating gives the chicken a gorgeous golden crust. For a gluten-free dish, use any gluten-free flour and swap the pasta for rice.

23 of 29

Chicken-and-Kale Alfredo Bake

Greg DuPree
Chicken-and-Kale Alfredo Bake Recipe

A creamy, Parmesan-laced sauce is a no-brainer for an easy, cheesy pasta bake. Skip the jar and make your own with sautéed shallot and fresh lemon, picking up all the flavor from the same pan used to cook the chicken. If you have yet to try whole-grain pasta, this dish is a fantastic introduction: The noodles hold up nicely throughout boiling and baking and won’t overwhelm the dish with a strong wheat flavor. Keep whole-wheat panko in your pantry as your new all-purpose breadcrumb; the light, crisp texture will make an excellent crust for fish fillets or chicken breasts.

24 of 29

Chicken Alfredo Soup

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Adam Dolge; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Chicken Alfredo Soup Recipe

Inspired by the favorite pasta dish, this creamy Chicken Alfredo Soup comes together in no time with the help of a few store-bought shortcuts. Rotisserie chicken, frozen peas, and a jar of Alfredo sauce, which serves as the backbone of this highly comforting pot of soup, keep your hands-on prep to a minimum. This convenience factor, coupled with the fact that it’s is a guaranteed kid-pleasing recipe, makes this soup a perfect go-to for hectic weeknights. While it is undeniably luscious and satisfying, the soup is surprisingly not overly heavy or right. We used Gia Russa brand sauce, but feel free to use your own favorite. Served with a crusty bread, a green salad, and a glass of white wine, this quick and easy soup makes for an outstanding dinner on chilly nights.  

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 29

Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole Recipe
This Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole uses jarred Alfredo sauce and pesto sauce, as well as a rotisserie chicken. In less than an hour you can have a hot, cheesy, pasta and chicken dish ready.

26 of 29

Vegetable and Chicken Lo Mein

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Dan Becker
Vegetable and Chicken Lo Mein Recipe

Time 45 minutes. The lo mein is great hot or cold, packed for lunches. It's adapted from one in Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children (HarperCollins Publishers, 2007; $15) by Ann Cooper and Lisa M. Holmes.

27 of 29

Chicken Puttanesca with Angel Hair Pasta

Lee Harrelson
Chicken Puttanesca with Angel Hair Pasta Recipe

This Chicken Puttanesca with Angel Hair Pasta recipe serves as a quick variation on the Italian original. See how to spice up bottled pasta sauce with chicken, capers, olives, and red pepper for an impressive, no-fuss meal.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 29

Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad Recipe

Just a bit of a rich and pungent cheese can go quite a long way. Tossing hot pasta with a few ounces of creamy Brie makes for a light, luscious, and flavorful sauce to coat this abundant bowl of chicken, fresh veggies, and whole-grain noodles.

29 of 29

Chicken with Lemon-Leek Linguine

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Chicken with Lemon-Leek Linguine Recipe

Add fresh flavors to a weeknight staple with this family-friendly menu that's ready in just 30 minutes.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Advertisement