One-Skillet Cheesy Ground Chicken Pasta Recipe

Satisfying, straightforward to make, and packed with protein, this cheesy ground chicken pasta by recipe developer Catherine Brookes is everything we look for in a weeknight dinner. And, when a meal can be made in just one skillet, it instantly scores bonus points. If you love chicken, but typically reach for chicken breasts, this dish offers a fun new way to incorporate ground chicken — a flavorful, lean meat — into your everyday eating. Ground chicken cooks up quickly, and using it ensures that every bite of the finished dish is full of delicious, savory flavor.

Here, we pair the ground chicken and penne pasta with a selection of basic but transformative ingredients, many of which you'll likely already have in your pantry and fridge. Diced onions and minced garlic add plenty of aromatic goodness, while tomato paste adds sweetness and tang. Heavy cream give the sauce a luscious finish, and chicken broth ties all of the flavors together. The final, but absolutely essential step, is scattering the hot, saucy pasta with a medley of cheeses, which creates a gorgeously melty layer on top. Then, it's ready to garnish with some fresh herbs and serve with sides of your choice.

This easy one pan recipe begins with ground chicken and diced onion, which are cooked in a little olive oil. Next, you'll need minced garlic, tomato paste, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Then, there's chicken broth, heavy cream, and penne pasta. Once everything has simmered on the stovetop, scatter over grated Parmesan, plus some shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. There's also the option to garnish with some chopped fresh parsley before serving, if desired.

Add the olive oil to a large, high-sided skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the diced onion and ground chicken and saute for about 10 minutes, until the onion has softened and the chicken is cooked through.

Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, and some salt and pepper to taste. Stir well and cook for another 2 minutes.

Pour in the chicken broth and cream, and add the pasta. Stir well.

Bring everything to a boil, then leave to simmer, covered, for 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta the pasta is al dente.

Scatter over the cheeses and leave on the heat until melted.

To serve, top with fresh parsley and extra black pepper if desired.

While diced onion is the perfect base here, but you can absolutely bulk the dish out with some extra veggies if desired. Carrots, celery, bell pepper, or broccoli florets could all be diced and sauteed together with the onion (just add the ground chicken once the veg has softened). If you fancy tossing in some quicker-cooking vegetables like zucchini or asparagus, add these when the onion is about half way through cooking. Peas and corn (frozen or canned) also make fantastic additions. These can be stirred in when you add the broth and left to simmer with the pasta. 

Another vegetable that would work brilliantly in this ground chicken pasta is mushroom. It's best to saute sliced mushrooms in a separate pan to prevent sogginess, or you can cook them in the same skillet and set them aside before cooking the onion and ground chicken. Or, to boost the ground chicken pasta with some nutritious greens, add a handful of spinach or kale in the last two to three minutes of simmering, and allow the leaves to wilt down before stirring them through the sauce. 

Of course, bread is always the perfect accompaniment for mopping up a creamy, tomatoey pasta sauce. Our go-to recommendation for serving alongside any cheesy pasta dish is garlic bread, but anything crusty like a baguette or Italian loaf would be equally wonderful. Or, if you're in the mood for something lighter, serving the pasta with a fresh side salad is a great idea. Go for a rainbow of veggies, such as in this avocado tomato salad, or amp up the crunch with fresh apple and toasted pepitas, which feature in our sweet kale salad recipe.

You can bring more sophisticated vibes with your choice of sides, too. Dishes like prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, Parmesan roasted green beans, or hot honey-glazed carrots would all fit beautifully alongside the savory flavors of the pasta. We also love serving a vibrant panzanella as a side, which offers a delightful combination of crunchy and tender textures.