Creamy Chicken Pasta

A quick pasta dish with chicken, asparagus, and tomatoes and a homemade creamy sauce.

I have come to really enjoy pasta recipes with grape tomatoes and then another veggie. Today's recipe has grape tomatoes with asparagus and that's one of my favorite combos because I love asparagus in pasta dishes. I also really enjoy when a pasta has its own quick sauce recipe. It really isn't too much trouble to make your own sauce and, in my opinion, it always tastes way better than a store-bought sauce (except spaghetti sauce - no one can convince me there lol).

What you need:

For the Pasta:

• 1 cup orzo
• 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 lb. chicken breast, cubed
• 1 lb. asparagus, trimmed and chopped into 2-inch pieces
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  

For the Sauce:

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3 tsp. all purpose flour
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
  

Directions:

1. For the pasta: Make orzo according to box directions.
2. Meanwhile in a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and asparagus, season with salt and pepper. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
   
3. Add tomatoes and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes.
4. For the sauce: While orzo and chicken is cooking, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
5. Sprinkle flour over the top and whisk. Cook for 2 minutes.
6. Whisk in chicken broth until combined. Then whisk in milk.
7. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute or until thickened.
8. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese until it melts. Season with salt and pepper
9. Drain pasta and then add pasta and sauce to chicken. Serve.
   

Recipe from Diethood

Bloghetti shared this fantastic One Pot Lemon Chicken Orzo recipe that can also be made in under 30 minutes. It has tomatoes too! Going the other route and making something that is a little more time-consuming, this Jalapeno Popper Mac & Cheese is my favorite mac and cheese of all-time!

Creamy Chicken Pasta

Author: Sarah Ellis/Fantastical Sharing of Recipes

Ingredients

For the Pasta:

• 1 cup orzo
• 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 lb. chicken breast, cubed
• 1 lb. asparagus, trimmed and chopped into 2-inch pieces
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

For the Sauce:

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3 tsp. all purpose flour
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. For the pasta: Make orzo according to box directions.
2. Meanwhile in a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and asparagus, season with salt and pepper. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
3. Add tomatoes and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes.
4. For the sauce: While orzo and chicken is cooking, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
5. Sprinkle flour over the top and whisk. Cook for 2 minutes.
6. Whisk in chicken broth until combined. Then whisk in milk.
7. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute or until thickened.
8. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese until it melts. Season with salt and pepper
9. Drain pasta and then add pasta and sauce to chicken. Serve.

Notes:

Recipe from Diethood