5-4-3-2-1 Pasta Primavera (Printable Version)

Vibrant chicken with pasta, fresh veggies, and creamy Parmesan for a quick, colorful dinner.

# Ingredient List:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
03 - 1 zucchini, sliced into half-moons
04 - 1 yellow squash, sliced into half-moons
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 cup broccoli florets

→ Pasta

07 - 10 oz penne or farfalle pasta

→ Dairy

08 - 1/4 cup heavy cream
09 - 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pantry & Aromatics

10 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

14 - Fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)
15 - Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving

# How to Make:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper; cook until golden and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add more olive oil if needed. Sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Add bell pepper, zucchini, yellow squash, and broccoli. Cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 5 minutes until tender-crisp.
05 - Stir in cherry tomatoes and cooked chicken. Cook an additional 2 minutes.
06 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Add cooked pasta, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and Italian herbs. Toss to combine and heat through. Add reserved pasta water gradually to form a light sauce as needed.
07 - Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately garnished with torn basil and extra Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent way more time in the kitchen than you actually did.
  • Every vegetable stays slightly crisp instead of turning into mush, which changes everything.
  • There's enough protein to keep you full, but it never feels heavy.
02 -
  • Undercooked pasta is your friend here because it finishes cooking in the pan with the cream, so pull it a minute early or watch it become mushy.
  • Save that pasta water before you drain—it's liquid gold for bringing everything together into an actual sauce instead of just wet pasta.
03 -
  • Don't crowd the pan when you're cooking chicken—let it sit for a moment so it actually browns instead of steaming.
  • Keep everything moving once the vegetables hit the pan; there's a small window where they're perfect before they turn soft.
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