Creamy Mushroom Chicken Pasta (Printable View)

Tender chicken and mushrooms in a creamy sauce served over fettuccine or linguine for a comforting dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1.1 lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Vegetables

02 - 9 oz cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (plus extra for garnish)

→ Dairy & Liquids

06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream
09 - 1/4 cup chicken broth
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pasta

11 - 12 oz fettuccine or linguine

→ Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and sauté until golden and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from skillet and keep warm.
03 - Add the remaining olive oil and butter to the same skillet. Sauté the onions and mushrooms until softened and browned, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low, then add heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and dried Italian herbs. Stir continuously until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens, about 2 to 3 minutes.
05 - Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and gently simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to meld flavors. Add reserved pasta water as needed to adjust sauce consistency.
06 - Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat with the sauce. Incorporate chopped parsley for freshness.
07 - Plate immediately, garnishing with extra parsley and Parmesan cheese as desired.

# Best Practices:

01 -
  • This dish comes together faster than most people expect, making weeknight dinners actually manageable.
  • The creamy sauce clings to every bite of pasta in a way that reminds you why cream sauce pasta exists.
  • Chicken and mushrooms might be humble ingredients, but together they create something that tastes restaurant-quality.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the pasta water because that starchy liquid thins the sauce perfectly if it gets too thick, and it's the difference between a dish that looks intentional and one that looks gluey.
  • Cook the chicken all the way through before you set it aside, but don't cook it past that point or it becomes tough and nobody enjoys that.
03 -
  • Reserving pasta water is one of those techniques that feels like cheating but is actually professional kitchen wisdom worth remembering forever.
  • Cooking the mushrooms until they brown instead of just until they soften unlocks a deeper, almost meaty flavor that elevates the entire dish.
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