This one pot cheesy chicken pasta meal is easy, quick and delicious. All cooked in one pan and ready in 30 minutes. A brilliant weeknight dinner!
For those times you want a quick dinner, minimal washing up and no arguments with the kids about eating their veg (ummm I actually want that every night) - then this one pan pasta is the answer!
30 minutes from start to finish, we just need to add ingredients to the pan as we go, and then stick it under the grill (broiler) at the end for a bubbling melted cheese topping.
- First we soften the onions in a large frying pan (skillet) in a little oil. Then add the chicken, salt and pepper, and cook for a further few minutes to seal the chicken.
- Next in goes garlic, tomato puree (paste), chopped peppers, dried pasta, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, tinned tomatoes, stock and milk. Give it a stir, bring to the boil, then place a lid or some foil on top and let that simmer for 12-15 minutes.
- Right at the end, we add in the sugarsnap peas (snow peas), warm them through, then sprinkle the top with cheese and place the pan under the grill for a few minutes until the cheese is bubbling.
That's it! Serve with a sprinkling of parsley.
I sometimes also serve it with some homemade cheese and tomato garlic bread (that recipe although delicious, involves making the dough from scratch, so it will take more time - but sometimes homemade garlic bread is just worth it).
Can I use fresh pasta?
Yes you can, but you'd need to reduce the tinned tomatoes to 400g (14oz), reduce the stock to 80ml (⅓ cup) and reduce the milk to 60ml (¼ cup). Fresh pasta doesn't absorb as much liquid as dried pasta, and it also takes less time to cook.
Add all of the ingredients, except the fresh pasta, at step 2, then simmer (uncovered is fine) for 10 minutes. Then add the fresh pasta and cook for a further 4-5 minutes (or however long it says on the pack), before adding the sugarsnap peas and continuing with the recipe.
Swaps or additions:
You can replace the chicken with turkey or ham, and add extras such as cooked bacon and chorizo to this dish.
If you want to make the dish with leftover cooked chicken instead of raw, just add in at the same time as the garlic and peppers in step two.
If you want to add more veggies, green beans and chunks of courgette (zucchini) work great. Add them in at the same times as the peppers.
Vegetarian version:
You can also make a vegetarian version, replacing the chicken with mushrooms, quorn or tofu, and replacing the chicken stock with vegetable stock. I also have a few recipes for one-pot pasta vegetarian meals on the blog, including:
- One Pot Mushroom Ragu with Pasta
- One-Pot Cheese and Tomato Pasta with Spring Vegetables
- Garlic and herb one-pot spaghetti with courgetti
I've got a whole category of One Pot Meals! Here are a few of my favourites:
- One Pot Rigatoni Alfredo with Chicken and Kale
- Slow Cooker Roast Beef - with all the veggies and gravy cooked in the slow cooker.
- Chris's famous Chilli Con Carne - ok, you have to cook the rice separately if you want rice, but the chilli itself is cooked in one pan.
- Big Batch Sausage and Bean One Pot - the kids love this one, but it's grown up enough for the adults to enjoy too.
- Cajun Chicken Pasta One Pot
The 30 Minute One Pot Chicken & Pasta Video:
Looking for more ways to cook with chicken?
How about....
The 30 Minute One Pot Chicken & Pasta Recipe:
30 Minute One Pot Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large onion - peeled and chopped
- 2 large chicken breasts - cut into chunks
- 1 Pinch salt and pepper
- 2 cloves garlic - peeled and minced
- 1 tbsp tomato puree - (usually gluten free, but best to check if required)
- 1 red bell pepper - de-seeded and chopped
- 4 ½ cups (300g) dried pasta - such as spiralli - (use a gluten free variety if required)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tbsp Worcestershire sauce - (usually gluten free, but best to check if required)
- 28 oz (800g) tinned chopped tomatoes
- 1 ¼ cups (300ml) chicken stock - made from hot water from the kettle + 2 stock cubes (or 2 heaped tsp veg bouillon for gluten free)
- ½ cup (120ml) milk - half fat or full fat
- 20 sugar snap peas/snow peas - roughly chopped
- 1 packed cup (100g) mature/strong cheddar cheese - grated/shredded
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan and add in the onions. Cook for 3 minutes on a medium-to-high heat until they start to turn translucent.
- Add in the chicken, salt and pepper. Cook for a further 3 minutes until the chicken is sealed (it won’t be cooked in the middle at this point).
- Add in the garlic, tomato puree and red peppers. Stir, then add in the pasta.
- Now add in the oregano, Worcestershire sauce, tins of tomatoes, stock and milk. Stir and bring to the boil, then turn down to a gentle simmer. Cover with a lid or some foil and simmer for 12-15 minutes (checking occasionally) until the pasta is cooked.
- Stir in the chopped sugar snap peas (it’s nice to add them at the end, so they’re hot, but retain their crunch),
- then sprinkle the pasta with cheese and put it under the grill/broiler for a couple of minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Top with chopped chives and serve.
Video
✎ Notes
Can I cook the pasta in the sauce?
Yes, as you can see in the recipe, there's lots of liquid that does into this dish - including tinned tomatoes, stock and milk. A lot of this liquid is absorbed in the pasta during the cooking process, so the dry pasta will be fully cooked in the sauce, and the resulting sauce will be thicker.Can I use fresh pasta?
Yes you can, but you'd need to reduce the tinned tomatoes to 400g (14oz), reduce the stock to 80ml (⅓ cup) and reduce the milk to 60ml (¼ cup). Fresh pasta doesn't absorb as much liquid as dried pasta, and it also takes less time to cook.Add all of the ingredients, except the fresh pasta, at step 2, then simmer (uncovered is fine) for 10 minutes. Then add the fresh pasta and cook for a further 4-5 minutes (or however long it says on the pack), before adding the sugarsnap peas and continuing with the recipe.
Can I make it ahead?
I prefer to eat this right away as I think it tastes better when freshly made, rather than after re-heating. However, you can make it ahead if you wish, and it will still be tasty.Make the dish, but don't grill the cheese (just sprinkle it on), then cool, cover and refrigerate for up to a day. It’s better to reheat in the oven (covered in foil) – as this will help the heat to disperse better, without the pasta being broken – as it would if it was being stirred in a pan. Heat in the oven at 190C/375F for about 20-25 minutes, until hot throughout. Remove the foil for the last 10 minutes if you want to brown the cheese. Note: the dish will be a little less saucy if you make it ahead, as the pasta will absorb more of the liquid. You can add an extra few tablespoons of stock or hot water when reheating the pasta to ensure it’s still saucy.
Leftovers:
Leftovers can be cooled, covered and refrigerated for up to a day. I like to add a splash of water or stock to loosen up the pasta, then sprinkle on a little more cheese before reheating in the oven (covered) at 190C/375F for about 20-25 minutes until hot throughout. Remove the foil for the last 10 minutes to brown the cheese. You can also reheat in the microwave if you prefer. Heat on a high setting (cover with a microwave-safe cover, not foil), stirring once or twice during reheating, until piping hot throughout. Be sure to check there are no cold spots. This normally takes around 3-4 minutes per portion, but it will depend on your microwave.Will it freeze?
Yes, cool, cover and freeze. Then defrost in the refrigerator. As per the re-heat instructions above – reheat in the oven (covered in foil) at 190C/375F for about 20-25 minutes until hot throughout. Again, add an extra few tablespoons of stock or hot water when reheating the pasta to ensure it’s still saucy.Swaps or additions:
You can replace the chicken with turkey or ham, and add extras such as cooked bacon and chorizo to this dish.If you want to make the dish with leftover cooked chicken instead of raw, just add in at the same time as the garlic and peppers in step two. If you want to add more veggies, green beans and chunks of courgette (zucchini) work great. Add them in at the same times as the peppers.
Vegetarian version:
You can also make a vegetarian version, replacing the chicken with mushrooms, quorn or tofu, and replacing the chicken stock with vegetable stock. I also have a few recipes for one-pot pasta vegetarian meals on the blog, including:- One Pot Mushroom Ragu with Pasta
- One-Pot Cheese and Tomato Pasta with Spring Vegetables
- Garlic and herb one-pot spaghetti with courgetti
Nutrition
This recipe was first posted in June 2015. Updated in December 2019 with new photos, tips and video.
Equipment:
In order to make this 30 Minute One Pot Chicken & Pasta you will need:
- Measuring Spoons.
- A good Kitchen Knife
- Chopping board
- Garlic press
- Measuring jug.
- A Frying Pan/Skillet
- Wooden or silicon coated spoons. We have recently bought these and love them.
- A cheese grater if you are grating the cheese yourself
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.
Trudy Jones says
Loved this recipe. Easy to make and delicious. I've been looking for some inspiration for family meals and this is definitely going on the list.
Sue says
Loved this, so easy to make. Really tasty. Family loved it. 💕
gwen says
Love your recipes all so easy and delicious without hassle. Real food!
The above recipe as with many of your pasta dishes, is absolutely lovely cold either on it`s own or with crunchy salad straight from the fridge.
also cold in lunch boxes, Mmmm! gorgeous,
Stay with us!! Gwen x
gwen says
Hi Nicky, Love your recipes all so easy and delicious without hassle. Real food!
The above recipe as with many of your pasta dishes, is absolutely lovely cold either on it`s own or with crunchy salad straight from the fridge.
also cold in lunch boxes, Mmmm! gorgeous,
Stay with us!! Gwen x
Chris Jones says
Quick, simple to, tasty. No more to say
Timi says
Wow this recipe is superb
Michelle Riley says
Really hearty and filling. Lovely winter warmer. Liked the crunch of the sugar snaps. Good that I could make it low salt and that it had plenty of veg for the kids
Jo Jones says
Really easy quick and tasty!
Kiah Lucas says
Really tasty and easy
Nazera Shaikh says
Hello,
Can I larger size of pasta shells.
How much Cooking time do I need to adjust.
Thanks
Nicky Corbishley says
Hi Nazera, yes you can use larger shells, but you make need to stir the pasta a few times during cooking to ensure all of the pasta is coated and cooked in the liquid. Timing depends on the size of the pasta, but I would expect an extra 3-4 minutes more. Just have a taste of one to ensure it's cooked before serving. You can top up with a little more boiling water or stock if needed during the extra 3-4 mins cooking time.
Catherine Pepper says
Takes a little bit longer than 5 mins to prepare, but worth it. My family really enjoyed this and I am now making it for the second time. This will be a family favourite, plus you can add some extras if you wish.
John Heaphy says
I made this tonight and it was very, very tasty. The only extras were a tsp of paprika, some mushrooms, four slices of chorizo, quartered and coriander on top as it was in stock. I tasted it a few times, as I always do, through the cooking process and thought it may be a little bland as I like my spices but it turned out just fine once the cheese was melted on top. I will admit to administering mine with 4/5 drips of Carolina Reaper hot sauce which gave it that final kick. The fussy teenager girls actually ate most of it which is unusual so only a tiny taster for the hound in the morning.
Chris Corbishley says
Thanks John,
Glad you enjoyed the recipe, loving your additions and there's nothing wrong with adding a little hot sauce 😉
Thanks
Chris & Nicky
Natalie Hayhoe says
Fantastic recipe. I added bacon and used just one 400g tin of tomatoes and it turned out lovely. Thank you!
Linda Bartlett says
I added more garlic and roasted the onion and capsicum first but still found this recipe lacking in flavor. Made qtys as per recipe (feed 6 people) we were 3, but will through half of it out as we are not prepared to reheat and eat next day. No-one really enjoyed this meal.
Lucy says
Just cooked this dish and it was delicious, definitely going to be a regular recipe in our house. Great for all the family. Thank you for sharing it!