Here’s a rich, comforting Creamy Mushroom & Asparagus Chicken Penne recipe — tender chicken, sautéed mushrooms, fresh asparagus, and penne pasta tossed in a velvety garlic-Parmesan cream sauce. Restaurant quality but easy enough for weeknights!
🍝 Creamy Mushroom & Asparagus Chicken Penne
⭐ Ingredients (Serves 4)
For the pasta & chicken
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb chicken breast (or thighs), sliced into thin strips
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Veggies
- 1 tbsp butter
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced (cremini or button)
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed & cut into 1–2 inch pieces
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
Cream Sauce
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional: juice of ½ lemon (brightens the dish)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Cook the pasta
- Cook penne according to package directions.
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
- Drain and set aside.
2. Cook the chicken
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken and cook until golden and fully cooked (5–7 minutes).
- Remove to a plate and set aside.
3. Sauté vegetables
- In the same skillet, add butter.
- Add mushrooms and cook until browned (3–5 minutes).
- Add asparagus and cook another 3–4 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp.
- Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
4. Make the sauce
- Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits.
- Add heavy cream.
- Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and optional lemon juice.
- Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
5. Combine everything
- Return chicken to the skillet.
- Add cooked penne.
- Toss until pasta is coated in sauce.
- If too thick, add a splash of pasta water to loosen.
6. Serve
- Taste and season with extra salt and pepper.
- Garnish with more Parmesan, parsley, or a squeeze of lemon.
- Serve warm.
⭐ Tips & Variations
Make it extra creamy:
- Add 4 oz cream cheese to the sauce for a richer texture.
Add wine:
- Swap ¼ cup broth for white wine when deglazing mushrooms.
Protein swaps:
- Shrimp
- Italian sausage
- Rotisserie chicken (skip step 2)
Veggie additions:
- Spinach
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Peas
- Roasted red peppers
If you want, I can also make a one-pot version, a lighter no-cream version, or a spicy Cajun-style version!
