This creamy Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta is a one-skillet meal the entire family will enjoy! With a slight kick from the salsa verde, this cheesy pasta is a quick and easy recipe perfect any night of the week!
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If your family is anything like mine, weeknights are filled with homework, sports practices, errands, and more! A quick and easy dinner option using minimal ingredients is the only way to get dinner on the table to avoid having to get fast food. This pasta dish is just the thing to add to your next meal plan as it comes together in only 20 minutes!
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Why You’ll Love this Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta
- A one skillet meal– using only one skillet, this meal comes together in only 20 minutes and makes clean up a breeze!
- Flavorful– with a creamy salsa verde sauce coating tender pasta and topped with cheese, what’s not to love?
- Uses ingredients you may already have on time– using simple ingredients, you may already have the ingredients needed on hand.
What is in Salsa Verde?
This flavor packed green sauce is made using tomatillos, onions, jalapenos, limes, and cilantro. Typically, the tomatillos are roasted and when combined with the other ingredients, it creates a zesty sauce that has a slight kick of heat. You can make a homemade recipe if you have a favorite or buy a jar from your local grocery store. I love the brand Herdez personally, but any brand works!
Ingredients to make Easy Salsa Verde Pasta
With just a few simple ingredients, this delicious pasta dish comes together in no time and is a tried-and-true family favorite. For exact recipe ingredient amounts and step by step directions, see printable recipe card below.
- Chicken– boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked and diced
- Olive Oil– extra-virgin olive oil
- Chicken Broth– feel free to use reduced sodium
- Salsa Verde– any type works from homemade to any brand from the store
- Heavy Whipping Cream– this adds to the creaminess of the pasta, you can also use half and half if desired.
- Pasta– uncooked Penne pasta or Rotini is idea; you’ll want some type of pasta that traps the pasta inside the pasta itself.
- Salt/Pepper– season to taste, you can also add in an all-purpose seasoning
- Pepper Jack Cheese– freshly shredded is best as the pre-bagged cheeses are coated with an additive that prevents clumping, leading to a cheese that doesn’t melt evenly.
Variations and Substitutions
- You can use Half and Half in place of the Whipping Cream.
- Monterey Jack Cheese can be used in place of the Pepper Jack Cheese.
- Feel free to add in some diced Serrano Peppers or Poblano Peppers for a flavor boost.
- If you’re a garlic lover like I am, add a few fresh garlic cloves into the pasta as it is simmering.
- Garnish with chopped Parsley or Cilantro, additional cheese, and/or seasoning of your choosing.
How to make Chicken Salsa Verde Pasta
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add in the chicken and season with salt/pepper or seasoning of choice.
- Cook until chicken is no longer pink in center.
- Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Pour in the chicken broth, salsa verde, heavy whipping cream, and uncooked pasta. Stir and bring to a rapid boil.
- Cover and reduce heat to low. Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes to cook pasta and allow the liquid to be absorbed.
- Remove from heat and add in the chicken and cheese.
- Stir until fully melted. Serve and enjoy!
Storing Salsa Verde Pasta and Make Ahead Directions
- Refrigerator– allow leftovers to fully cool before placing in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in microwave.
- Freezer– place leftovers in a freezer safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat in microwave.
- Make Ahead– due to the sauce cooking the pasta, you don’t want to prepare this ahead of time. To save on time, you can cook/season your chicken and when ready to prepare, simply skip the steps of cooking chicken in the olive oil.
FAQ’s
How can I make Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta in the slow cooker?
I recommend cooking the chicken first and adding all ingredients minus the cheese to your slow cooker. Cook on low for a few hours until pasta is cooked with the liquid and is tender. Add in the chicken and cheese, stirring to combine thoroughly. Serve and enjoy!
Can I use Rotisserie Chicken or leftover chicken in this recipe?
Absolutely! That works great, simply omit the steps using olive oil and needed to season/cook the chicken breasts.
How does Salsa Verde taste?
With a tangy, zesty flavor, this salsa has a smoky flavor due to the roasting of vegetables. You can enjoy it as a dip, over burritos, enchiladas, nachos, or in this pasta. It isn’t spicy, it just has a slight kick. My 3 kids love it and it’s not too spicy for them!
More Pasta Recipes You’ll love
Garlic Parmesan Spaghetti– comes together in no time and makes a great side dish! Add in some chicken or shrimp and make it a tasty meal option!
Bruschetta Chicken Pasta– an easy weeknight dinner full of fresh tomatoes, basil, pasta, balsamic vinegar, and topped with seasoned chicken!!
Incredible Lemon Chicken Piccata Pasta– a light and zesty pasta dish made with lemon juice, capers, and cream. It’s the perfect comfort food dish to enjoy anytime.
Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta– packed with flavor and comes together using only 5 ingredients! Simple, quick, and a favorite with everyone!
Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti– with basic pantry staples and just a handful of steps, this family-friendly dish is a budget-friendly crowd-pleaser and perfect for any weeknight.
Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta is a versatile and flavorful dish that combines the tanginess of salsa verde with the tenderness of chicken and the richness of pasta. Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight meal or an impressive dinner for guests, this recipe is sure to satisfy both your taste buds and your cravings. With its vibrant green color and zesty taste, salsa verde chicken pasta offers a delightful Mexican twist on traditional Italian cuisine. So why not give it a try and discover the perfect balance between tangy, creamy, and comforting flavors? Be sure to comment below and tell me what you think if you give it a try!
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Easy Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup salsa verde
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 cups uncooked penne or rotini pasta
- salt/pepper or seasoning of choice *I use our go to seasoning of Chupacabra on our chicken
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add in the chicken and season with salt/pepper or seasoning of choice.
- Cook until chicken is no longer pink in center.
- Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Pour in the chicken broth, salsa verde, heavy whipping cream, and uncooked pasta.
- Stir and bring to a rapid boil.
- Cover and reduce heat to low.
- Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add in the chicken and cheese.
- Stir until fully melted. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Janie says
Absolutely delicious!
Kristin says
Yay!! Glad you enjoyed!!
Joan Schaller-Bauer says
Sounds great! Your son is so stinkin’ adorable!!! I am a red head! He’s precious!!!
Kristin says
Awww thanks! He’s my red headed cutie! He is the only one in the family with red hair, so we love it!!
Enjoy the dish! Its a tasty one!
Sherrie says
This looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it
Kristin says
Thanks!! Hope you enjoy it, be sure to keep me posted!!