Description
A creamy and comforting pasta dish loaded with tender chicken and melted Monterey Jack cheese, perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces spaghetti, cooked to al dente
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté the chicken. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken pieces with paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for 5–7 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce. In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Combine broth and cream. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring well to combine. Lower the heat and let the sauce simmer gently for about 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Mix everything together. Return the cooked spaghetti and chicken to the skillet, tossing thoroughly to coat everything with the delicious sauce.
- Melt the cheese. Evenly distribute the shredded Monterey Jack cheese over the pasta mixture. Cover the skillet and allow the cheese to melt for 2–3 minutes.
- Serve hot. Remove the skillet from the heat, garnish with freshly chopped parsley, and serve immediately.
Notes
Feel free to substitute chicken thighs for richer flavor or use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: chicken pasta, Monterey Jack, comfort food, family meal, easy recipe