5 Chicken Breast Pasta Recipes You’ll Actually Want to Make

Let’s be real: chicken breast and pasta are the Beyoncé and Jay-Z of weeknight dinners. They’re reliable, versatile, and always hit the right note. But sometimes, scrolling through endless “chicken pasta” recipes online feels like falling into a rabbit hole of bland, repetitive stuff. (Looking at you, overly dry Alfredo recipes.)

So, I decided to pull together five of my go-to chicken breast pasta recipes that are simple, flavorful, and most importantly don’t make you feel like you’re eating the same dish on repeat. Oh, and yes, these are totally doable even if your idea of “cooking skills” is boiling water without burning it.

Grab your skillet and let’s get cooking. 🍝🐔

1. Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

If comfort food had a VIP lounge, this recipe would be the bouncer. It’s rich, garlicky, and creamy enough to make you want to lick the plate (no judgment here).

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts (sliced thin)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp butter
• 10 oz fettuccine (or spaghetti if that’s all you’ve got)
• Salt & black pepper
• Fresh parsley (optional, for fancy points)

Instructions:

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then sear it in butter until golden brown. Set it aside.
2. In the same pan, sauté garlic until fragrant (aka until your kitchen smells like heaven).
3. Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Let it simmer until slightly thickened.
4. Stir in Parmesan until the sauce turns creamy and luxurious.
5. Toss in your pasta, then top with sliced chicken.
6. Sprinkle parsley on top if you want Instagram-worthy plating.

Pro tip: This dish pairs perfectly with garlic bread. Or, you know, a glass of wine and a “don’t talk to me until I’m done eating” sign.

2. Spicy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Ever wanted your pasta to slap you in the face with flavor? This one does just that in the best way possible.

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts (cubed)
• 2 tsp Cajun seasoning (more if you live dangerously)
• 1 red bell pepper (sliced)
• 1 yellow bell pepper (sliced)
• 1 small onion (sliced)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 12 oz penne pasta
• Olive oil
• Fresh parsley

Instructions:

1. Coat chicken in Cajun seasoning. Sear until slightly charred.
2. Remove chicken, then sauté peppers and onions in the same pan.
3. Add chicken broth and cream, then stir until it looks saucy and spicy.
4. Toss in penne pasta and chicken. Let everything mingle for 2–3 minutes.
5. Garnish with parsley because… balance.

Why it works: The Cajun seasoning + cream combo hits you with smoky heat but then smooths it out with creamy goodness. Ever wondered why spicy and creamy always win together? It’s because they balance each other out like Netflix and a comfy blanket.

3. Lemon Herb Chicken Pasta

Not in the mood for a heavy, cream-based dish? I feel you. This one’s lighter, zesty, and honestly makes you feel like you’re eating at a chic café instead of your messy kitchen.

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts (thinly sliced)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• Juice and zest of 1 lemon
• 1 cup spinach
• 12 oz linguine
• ½ tsp red chili flakes
• Salt & pepper
• Fresh basil

Instructions:

1. Cook linguine until al dente. Keep ½ cup pasta water on the side.
2. Pan-sear chicken with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Remove from the pan.
3. Add garlic, lemon juice, and zest to the same pan. Toss in spinach until wilted.
4. Mix pasta with the sauce, adding reserved water to loosen it up.
5. Top with chicken slices, sprinkle chili flakes, and garnish with fresh basil.

IMO, this is the ultimate “I want pasta but don’t want to feel like I need a nap after” recipe. Light, refreshing, and still filling enough to make your stomach happy.

4. Pesto Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

This one tastes like summer in Italy minus the expensive plane ticket and jet lag.

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts (sliced into strips)
• 3 tbsp basil pesto (store-bought works, no judgment)
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (chopped)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 10 oz rotini pasta
• 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
• Olive oil

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta until al dente. Save some pasta water (trust me, it’s liquid gold).
2. Pan-fry chicken strips with olive oil. Add salt and pepper.
3. Toss in sun-dried tomatoes and cherry tomatoes. Sauté until softened.
4. Mix in cooked pasta, pesto, and Parmesan. Add a splash of pasta water to bring it all together.
5. Serve immediately and watch everyone at the table fight for seconds.

Why I love it: The combo of tangy sun-dried tomatoes with creamy pesto is basically a cheat code for flavor. Plus, this one’s super quick perfect for weeknights when you’re already debating whether ordering takeout is easier.

5. Baked Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Okay, let’s end with the ultimate crowd-pleaser: baked Alfredo. It’s gooey, cheesy, and the kind of dish that makes people ask, “Wait… you actually made this?” (Yes, Karen, I did.)

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts (diced)
• 2 cups Alfredo sauce (store-bought or homemade, your call)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• ½ cup Parmesan
• 12 oz penne pasta
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta until slightly underdone (it’ll finish in the oven).
2. Cook chicken in a skillet until golden.
3. Mix pasta, chicken, and Alfredo sauce. Pour into a baking dish.
4. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
5. Melt butter, mix with breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning, then sprinkle on top.
6. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbly.

End result? A cheesy masterpiece that makes you the hero of dinner. Leftovers? Forget about it. This pan will be empty before you even sit down.

Final Thoughts

So there you go: five chicken breast pasta recipes that don’t suck. From creamy comfort food to light lemony goodness, there’s something here for every mood (and every level of cooking effort).

Cooking chicken pasta doesn’t need to feel like you’re stuck on repeat. Switch up the sauces, play with herbs, and experiment with textures. Honestly, pasta is forgiving you can mess up a little and still end up with something delicious. Ever under-salt a dish? Just call it “lightly seasoned” and nobody will know. 🙂

Your move now: Which one are you trying first? And be honest… are you the type who sticks to the recipe, or do you throw in whatever’s left in the fridge and hope for the best?

Either way, grab your fork. These chicken pasta recipes won’t cook themselves.