Quick Weeknight Chicken Penne Alfredo (Skinnier, too!)

Two words come to mind to describe this fabulous dish -- fast & flavorful. Which makes Chicken Penne Alfredo, packed with fresh carrots and broccoli, just perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. And as another bonus? It's a skinnier version of Alfredo, too!

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Are you, like us, always running ragged trying to keep up with your family's schedule? If you often need to rely on quick and easy recipes to get meals on the table, this Chicken Penne Alfredo recipe is for you. It is ready in a flash, and definitely qualifies in the quick and easy category.

Loaded with fresh broccoli and baby carrots coated in a creamy sauce, two words describe this tasty dish -- fast & flavorful. Which makes this easy Chicken Penne Alfredo just perfect for a quick weeknight meal.  

And as another bonus? -- It's a skinnier version of Alfredo, too! Taking advantage of a tub of flavored cream cheese spread and low-fat milk, rather than the heavy cream of traditional Alfredo, this version's creamy sauce is a skinnier, lower fat, fast and easy version of Alfredo sauce.

So what makes this dish so quick and easy, you ask?

Well, to start with, you cook the recipe's pasta, carrots (packaged baby carrots that are all ready to go), and broccoli florets all in one pot at the same time in the pasta cooking water. How quick and easy is that??

Second, if you want, you can buy the packaged pre-cut broccoli florets, saving the step of cutting up a head of broccoli. Packaged pre-cut fresh broccoli florets is certainly a shortcut of which I take full advantage.

And third, if you're really pressed for time, you can use precooked rotisserie, leftover, or packaged chicken instead of sauteing boneless chicken, cutting out a full recipe step and saving even more time!

Two words come to mind to describe this fabulous dish -- fast & flavorful.

What's to Love About This Recipe?

• Easy - Boil water to cook the pasta and veggies, saute some chicken, and stir all the ingredients together. -- That's truly all it takes to whip up this tasty dish.
• Fast - Have this dish on the table in 30 minutes or less, especially when taking advantage of fully-ready baby carrots, packaged pre-cut fresh broccoli florets, and rotisserie chicken to save even more prep and time!
• Flavorful - Weeknight Chicken Penne Alfredo's combination of pasta, veggies, tender chicken, flavored cream cheese, and Parmesan deliver up fabulous flavor in every bite.
• Creamy comfort food - Pasta and chicken coated in a deliciously creamy sauce is pure comfort food at its best.
• Family-favorite - The family chef loves it for its ease of prep, the whole family adores it for its flavor! This is one quick and easy dish that's sure to be a family hit.

Quick Weeknight Chicken Penne Alfredo Ingredients:

Quick Weeknight Chicken Penne Alfredo comes together with just a handful of basic ingredients. To whip up a panful, you'll need:

• Penne pasta - You can use regular or whole wheat penne, based on your preference. Bowtie pasta can be substituted, as well.

• Baby carrots - Straight from "the package" -- already peeled & ready to go, for ease of prep. Or, peel full-sized carrots and cut them into about inch-sized chunks.

• Fresh broccoli florets - Cut florets from a head of fresh broccoli, or buy packaged pre-cut broccoli florets found in bags in the produce section of the grocery store. We always buy packaged florets to make prep just that much easier.

• Boneless chicken breasts - Cut one pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and saute in a bit of oil. Or, you can use about 2 & 1/2 cups of chopped fully-cooked meat from a grocery store rotisserie chicken instead. If you have leftover fully-cooked chicken on hand, that works great as well.

• Tub cream cheese spread - An 8-ounce container of chive-flavored or garden vegetable-flavored cream cheese spread serves as the base of the dish's Alfredo sauce and brings fabulous flavor to the dish. We do not recommend substituting a block of plain cream cheese as it will not contribute flavor in the same way as the flavored cream cheese spread.

• Milk - 2%, 1%, or skim milk combines with the cream cheese spread to create a creamy sauce. Whole milk or 1/2-&-1/2 could be used instead just fine, if you'd like.

• Parmesan cheese - The finishing element of the dish's Alfredo sauce. Use pre-shredded from a package, or shred your own from a block of Parmesan. --Either way works just fine.

• Salt & pepper - Seasoned simply, salt and  ground black pepper enhance the flavors of the finished dish.

Quick Weeknight Chicken Penne Alfredo comes together with just a handful of basic ingredients.

How to Make Quick Weeknight Chicken Penne Alfredo:

Weeknight Chicken Penne Alfredo is super quick and easy to make. Cooking the recipe's pasta, carrots, and broccoli florets all in one pot at the same time in the pasta cooking water makes prep really simple.

To get a pot going, start by cook penne pasta and carrots in a large pot of salted water according to the pasta package directions. When 6 minutes of pasta cooking time remains, add broccoli florets to the pot right along with the partially-cooked pasta and carrots. 

Once the pasta is cooked, drain the pasta and vegetables in a large colander and then return them to the pot.

While the pasta and vegetables cook, cut boneless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and season them with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Heat some oil in a saute pan, add the chicken pieces, and saute until the chicken is cooked through. If you're using a grocery story rotisserie chicken, you can skip this step and simply chop up the fully-cooked meat.

Stir a tub of chive-flavored or garden vegetable-flavored cream cheese spread, some milk, some grated Parmesan, salt, and pepper into the pasta mixture to form the creamy sauce.

Add the cooked chicken, and stir everything together over low heat until the cream cheese spread is fully melted and the pasta is well coated.

Sprinkle individual servings with additional Parmesan, if you'd like, and you're good to go.

Yes, making this delicious and satisfying dinner dish is truly that simple.

Which makes fast & flavorful Chicken Penne Alfredo just perfect for any weeknight meal. -- And for all those crazy-busy times in life we all seem to have.

Check out these other super-tasty chicken dinner recipes:

• Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Chicken Pot Pie Noodles Skillet
• Oven Barbecue Chicken Thighs
• Baked Chicken Cacciatore
• Balsamic Chicken Sheet Pan Supper
• Simple Chicken Enchiladas
• Chicken & Spinach Enchiladas
• Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf
• Chicken Pot Pie (2 ways)
• Bacon & Corn Chicken Pot Pie
• Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff
• Whole Roasted Chicken with Vegetables
• More main dish recipes

Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love to have you back soon!

easy dinner recipes, 30 minute dinner recipes, chicken dinner recipes, chicken penne alfredo recipe, easy alfredo

Main Dishes

American

Yield: about 6 servings

Author: Tracey | The Kitchen is My Playground

Quick Weeknight Chicken Penne Alfredo

Two words come to mind to describe this fabulous dish -- fast & flavorful. Which makes Chicken Penne Alfredo, packed with fresh carrots and broccoli, just perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. And as another bonus? It's a skinnier version of Alfredo, too!

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 30 Min

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 c. dry penne pasta (regular or whole wheat)
• 2 c. baby carrots (from "the package" -- already peeled & ready)
• 3 c. fresh broccoli florets
• 1 lb. boneless chicken breasts OR about 2 1/2 c. chopped fully-cooked chicken
• 1 (8 oz.) tub chive-flavored or garden vegetable-flavored cream cheese spread
• 1/2 c. 2% or skim milk
• 1/3 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 T. olive or canola oil

Instructions

1. In a large pot, cook pasta and carrots in salted water according to pasta package directions. When 6 minutes of pasta cooking time remain, add broccoli florets to the pot. Drain pasta and vegetables; return to the pot.
2. While the pasta and vegetables cook, cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Heat oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and saute until cooked through.
3. Stir cream cheese, milk, Parmesan, salt, and pepper into the pasta mixture. Add cooked chicken.
4. Stir over low heat until cream cheese is melted.
5. If desired, sprinkle individual servings with additional Parmesan.

TRACEY'S NOTES:

1. Use packaged pre-cut broccoli florets, if you'd like, to make prep even easier -- saving the step of cutting up a head of broccoli.
2. Using chopped precooked rotisserie chicken instead of sauteing boneless chicken breasts can cut out even more prep time!

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Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Eat Well Lose Weight magazine

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