Cheesy Chicken Pasta + Video

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Cheesy Chicken Pasta is a rich and hearty Italian meal that is bursting with flavor. It’s so easy that it just about cooks itself. Make chicken pasta with cheese for an easy and tasty dinner!

titled: cheesy chicken pasta one pot meal

This simple one pot creamy chicken pasta features a rich sundried tomato sauce that soaks into the pasta. Just toss everything together in a pot and let it cook!

ingredients for cheesy chicken pasta in a dutch oven

Cheesy Chicken Pasta

In just 20 minutes, you’ll be ready to dig into a bowl of chicken and linguine coated in cheesy goodness and dotted with fresh baby spinach, onions, and tangy sun-dried tomatoes.

A cheesy chicken pasta recipe that practically makes itself — now that’s my kind of meal!

I also have another incredible garlic chicken pasta recipe made with tortellini and a creamy homemade sauce.

For south-of-the-border flavor, make some Mexican spaghetti.

Your favorite salsa ingredients come together with pasta and sausage to create another knock-your-sock-off, easy pasta dish!

chicken pasta ingredients cooking in pot

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Dried Italian Seasoning: 

    This is a fabulous convenience ingredient that’s common in Italian recipes.

    If you don’t keep it on hand, combine 1 teaspoon each of dried basil and rosemary with ½ teaspoon each of oregano and dried thyme.
  • Red Pepper Flakes:

    If you’re sensitive to spicy flavors, reduce this ingredient to ½ teaspoon. The chicken cheese pasta sauce will be milder, but there will still be a little heat.
  • Chardonnay:

    The wine adds a rich, buttery flavor to the sauce, as well as a hint of citrusy brightness. If you can use the chardonnay, I highly recommend it.

    Otherwise, you can use chicken stock, white grape juice, or equal parts lemon juice and water if needed.
  • Sun Dried Tomatoes:

    Use halved grape tomatoes instead if you’re not a fan of these. Also, reduce the liquid by ½ cup and add extra salt to taste at the end.
stirring chicken pasta with tongs

What to Serve with Chicken Cheese Pasta

No Italian meal would be complete without a side of garlic bread or homemade breadsticks

Make a big bowl of salad using this Olive Garden salad recipe, or roast some veggies to make your table complete.

That said, you could easily enjoy this cheesy chicken pasta all on its own. With pasta, meat, veggies, and cheese, it’s enough to keep you feeling full!

sprinkling shredded cheese over pot of chicken pasta

One Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta FAQ

What are good substitutes for linguine in a one pot pasta dish?

You can use any pasta for your chicken pasta with cheese. As a substitute for linguine, use another long, thin pasta like fettuccine or angel hair pasta.

Even shorter pasta like penne, rotini, or rigatoni will work great.

Just be sure to use enough liquid to cover the noodles, and then cook until al dente.

What type of white wine is best to cook with?

I use Entwine Chardonnay. You can find it at Kroger brand grocery stores, and it runs about $10 a bottle.

No need for anything too expensive. As long as you’d enjoy a glass of it by itself, it’ll taste great when used for cooking!

Can I make this cheesy chicken pasta recipe in a slow cooker?

I haven’t tried it with this particular recipe, but I don’t think the linguine will hold up very well under the long cook time.

If you want to try it, cook the rest of the ingredients in the crockpot first, then add the noodles during the last hour or so of cook time.

Or, cook them separately on the stove and mix together your cheesy chicken pasta just before serving. Just know that the flavor won’t be as rich since it isn’t cooked together with everything else.

red tongs stirring a pot of cheesy chicken pasta

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

Don’t miss a thing! Follow us on
Facebook | Twitter Pinterest | Instagram 


overhead: one pot creamy chicken pasta

chicken linguine in large pot

Cheesy Chicken Pasta + Video

Donna Elick
Cheesy Chicken Pasta is a hearty Italian meal that simply bursts with authentic flavors! You need ONE pot for this easy pasta recipe!
4.88 stars from 8 reviews
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine American, Italian
Method Stovetop
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
 

  • 8 ounces baby spinach leaves, divided
  • 1 cup sun dried tomatoes packed in oil with Italian herbs, drained (about 7 ounces)
  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2" bite sized pieces
  • 6 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1 pound dry linguine
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 32 ounces (4 cups) reduced sodium chicken stock
  • 8 ounces (1 cup) chardonnay wine
  • 4 ounces fresh Parmesan cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Combine 1/2 of the spinach with the tomatoes, onion, chicken, garlic, pasta, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper in a 5-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Pour chicken stock and wine over top. Cover and bring to a boil.
  • Cook 7-9 minutes until pasta is al dente (with a bite to it). Toss pasta with tongs occasionally to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot. You will still have some liquid in the pan when the pasta is done cooking. This is going to make the base for our delicious cheese sauce.
  • Turn off the heat and add the cheese to the pasta. Toss pasta with tongs until the cheese melts into the pasta. Toss in remaining spinach.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Video

Donna’s Notes

  1. Dried Italian seasoning is a fabulous convenience ingredient. If you do not keep it on hand, combine 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon oregano and 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme.
  1. This dish is just spicy enough to make your tongue tingle. For a very mild sauce, reduce the red pepper flakes to 1/2 teaspoon.
  1. I know some people are sensitive to alcohol. The wine adds a fabulous rich buttery flavor and a bright citrus flavor to the pasta. If you can use the chardonnay, I highly recommend it. However, you can substitute with chicken stock, white grape juice, or lemon water (1/2 cup fresh lemon juice and 1/2 cup water).

Nutrition

Serving: 1. | Calories: 562cal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 1303mg | Sugar: 4g | Fiber: 5g | Calcium: 324mg | Iron: 4mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled pinterest collage of chicken pasta recipe

Originally published October 2016, updated and republished February 2023

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.

The Simple Kitchen cookbook affiliate linked banner

293 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I’m a little shocked that throwing raw chopped chicken, pasta & everything else in the pot at the same time comes out perfectly. I added my spinach at the end. Wow, what a time saver & this meal is delicious! Hubby doesn’t like the tomatoes but a remake without them is just as tasty. I left the red pepper flakes & cheese to add at the end for individual preference. It was an awesome meal!

    1. 5 stars
      I recently found this recipe on Facebook. Made it tonight for the first time!! OMG! It is delish and easy! Will definitely be on my rotation list.

  2. This is by far the easiest and most popular dish that I serve my friends!
    I add a can of Rotelle, because I like hot and spicy.
    Other than that I stick to the recipe.

  3. This is the best recipe! We love it. Very easy to make. I don’t like cheese sauce Italian, my husband doesn’t like red sauce Italian. This is perfect! It’s our new favorite!

  4. 4 stars
    DH and I both enjoyed this meal. Once all the prep was done, it went together quickly, but, truly, can anyone do that amount of prep in 10 minutes? Not me, even if you don’t include clean-up. It makes a lot. I hope it freezes well.

  5. 5 stars
    Just made this. So quick and easy. Turned out great! Left out the red peppers because wife can’t handle even mildly spicy. Still, think it needed something… Maybe if I used fresh herbs, the flavor would be a bit more bold and make up for lack of red peppers. I’m definitely gonna make it again!

  6. Can you make this in a regular pot? Want to make at a timeshare and don’t want to lug the dutch oven with us.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating