Description
This White Cheddar Ranch Chicken Pasta combines tender chicken and creamy white cheddar for a comforting meal. Perfect for a quick dinner, it’s full of flavor and easy to prepare, making it a family favorite!
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 ounces cavatappi pasta
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cups white cheddar cheese, shredded
- fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the cavatappi pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside along with the reserved water.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and add the chicken and season with paprika and black pepper.
- Cook the chicken until golden brown and fully cooked, then remove from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter, then stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Sprinkle in the flour, stirring to combine, and cook for a minute.
- Gradually whisk in the whole milk, ensuring there are no lumps.
- Add in the ranch seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes, cooking until the sauce thickens.
- Stir in the shredded white cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add the cooked chicken and reserved pasta to the sauce, stirring to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
Feel free to customize this dish with your favorite vegetables like spinach or broccoli.
For a lighter version, use whole wheat pasta and reduce the cheese.
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 110mg