17 Chicken Pasta Recipes You'll Want to Make Any Night of the Week

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated March 20, 2020
Marcus Nilsson
From lean chicken bolognese to an umami-filled chicken and mushroom tagliatelle, your weeknight pasta dinner just got a delicious upgrade.
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Marcus Nilsson

Pasta is typically fast, endlessly versatile, and always delicious—put these three traits together and it's easy to understand why it's the ideal mealtime staple. Another plus? Pasta comes in so many shapes and sizes. Wide noodles like tagliatelle and pappardelle are ideal for twirling in a rich sauce, whereas ridged and ruffle shapes like farfalle and penne rigate hold up to denser sauces. Chicken is another versatile ingredient, so we like to pair it with our favorite noodles whenever possible. That's why ground chicken, chicken breasts, chicken cutlets, and chicken thighs are all spotlighted alongside pasta in these mouthwatering recipes.

We've never met a bolognese sauce that's both a breeze to make and super lean—until now. Our Chicken Bolognese with Tagliatelle is made with ground chicken in place of the usual beef, pork, and veal blend. The meat is cooked with traditional mirepoix (celery, onions, and carrots), plus tomato paste, white wine, whole milk, and whole peeled tomatoes. It's simmered until thickened, then tossed with cooked pasta noodles and Parmesan cheese for a decadent meal. Another savory and comforting dish featuring wide tagliatelle is our Chicken and Mushroom Pasta. A rich cream sauce made with heavy cream, white wine, and Parmesan is simply irresistible, while cremini mushrooms bring plenty of savory, meaty flavors alongside boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

We also have several pasta recipes featuring chicken that come together in less than 30 minutes. Our recipe for Greek Chicken One-Pan Pasta is, as the name suggests, made in just one pan; the secret to the savory taste here is that the pasta is cooked in a combination of chicken broth, water, and lemon zest, which builds a burst of flavor. And Spicy Chicken Pasta is a super simple, Pomodoro-style dish that uses diced chicken breast, tons of baby spinach, and red pepper flakes for a kick.

From creamy and rich to light and lemony, you'll want to make these delicious chicken pasta recipes for dinner this week.

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Chicken Bolognese with Tagliatelle

Sharon Radisch
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Lighten a traditional beef bolognese sauce by swapping red meat for ground chicken—it's leaner but delivers plenty of flavor. Whole peeled tomatoes, tomato paste, whole milk, and white wine make quick but effective work of this standout sauce.

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Greek-Chicken One-Pan Pasta

Yunhee Kim
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This speedy, family-friendly meal comes together in just 30 minutes. We love using fusilli pasta, which is a corkscrew shape that holds the savory, lemon-infused sauce in its curves.

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Chicken and Mushroom Tagliatelle

Romulo Yanes
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Savory and rich with umami flavors, this pasta dish is comforting and absolutely delicious. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are browned in butter, then sautéed with shallots and cremini mushrooms. The sauce—made from white wine, Parmesan, and heavy cream—is unparalleled.

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Chicken Puttanesca with Orzo

Romulo Yanes
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Fresh parsley, garlic, capers, diced tomatoes, and Kalamata olives are the base for this briny Italian classic. Crispy chicken cutlets are browned and placed on top of short-grain orzo for a satisfying and nourishing meal.

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Pasta with Chicken and Mushrooms

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Who wouldn't love this creamy pasta dish? Adding sautéed mushrooms to the meal is the perfect way to sneak vegetables into a hearty, indulgent meal.

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Spicy Chicken Pasta

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Even kids will be able to handle the heat in this easy weeknight pasta dish. The heat comes from ¼-teaspoon of red pepper flakes, but feel free to use less or more depending on just how hot you like it.

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Chicken, Edamame, and Noodle Stir-Fry

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This Japanese-inspired, one-bowl dinner combines frozen, shelled edamame with cabbage and chicken in a light, tangy sauce.

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Chicken and Kale Casserole

Anna Williams
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The earthly goodness of kale, the brightness of lemon zest, and the richness of ricotta and Parmesan cheeses blend wonderfully in this healthy, satisfying dish.

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Light Chicken and Squash Lasagna

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This lighter take on lasagna layers noodles with chicken breasts, fresh summer squash, marinara sauce, and Parmesan for a satisfying meal that's not too heavy.

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Baked Penne with Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

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Sliced chicken breast, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes are tossed with penne pasta and a creamy garlic-provolone sauce for a cheesy, bubbling, and flavorful casserole.

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Pasta with Chicken, Tomato, and Feta

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Thanks to store-bought rotisserie chicken, this light and fresh pasta dinner is ready in just 15 minutes and is as delicious as it is quick to make.

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Thai Chicken and Noodle Salad

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Equal parts savory, sweet, tangy, and spicy, the dressing is what makes this one-bowl meal irresistible. Garnish the salad with your choice of toppings, including bean sprouts, scallions, fresh mint, and chopped peanuts.

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Chicken with Artichokes and Angel Hair

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Two pantry staples—canned artichoke hearts and capers—create a quick, sophisticated sauce for sautéed chicken cutlets. Serve on a bed of angel hair or any other pasta you have on hand.

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Chicken Tetrazzini

David Loftus
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This baked linguine with a bubbling, creamy Parmesan-white wine sauce and a mix of sautéed mushrooms, peas, and shredded rotisserie chicken might just be your new weeknight go-to.

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Orecchiette with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

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Lean chicken sausage and lots of veggies keep this dish healthy while not skimping on flavor. If you don't have broccoli rabe, any leafy green—such as kale or Swiss chard—will do.

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Shells with Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella

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Inspired by a caprese salad, this quick pasta dish combines tomatoes, basil, and creamy fresh mozzarella with grilled chicken. No time to fire up the grill? This recipe is great with rotisserie chicken, too.

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Pappardelle with Creamy Chicken Sauce

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A simple sauce of garlic, onion, and cream envelops wide ribbons of pasta and sautéed chicken breast. Make a green salad while the sauce simmers, and dinner is ready in about half an hour.

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