This Peri Peri Chicken Pasta is a tasty dish that brings a little spice to your dinner table. With creamy sauce wrapped around tender chicken and pasta, it’s a meal everyone will enjoy.
This recipe prevents dry chicken, offers mild spice for all tastes, and saves time for a quick family dinner solution.
Lately, I’ve been looking for quick and easy dinners that don’t take hours to prepare. This recipe really helps with that. It solves my dinner dilemma by being a simple one-pan meal that cooks up in just 30 minutes.
What I love about this dish is that it keeps the chicken moist and flavorful while mixing in the right amount of spice. You just toss it all together in one pan, and before you know it, dinner is ready! Total time from prep to serving is only about 35 minutes.
If you love pasta as much as I do, you should check out this Instant Pot Vegetarian Taco Pasta for another easy dinner idea.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Rich Flavor Profile , The creamy, tangy, and spicy notes of the peri-peri seasoning create a bold taste that’s satisfying and keeps everyone coming back for more.
- Convenient One-Pan Meal , It’s all cooked in one pan, making this dish simple to prepare and minimizing the time spent in the kitchen.
- Flexible Ingredients , You can use any type of pasta you love, so it’s easy to customize based on what you have in your pantry or family preferences.
- Storage Friendly , This pasta works well in the fridge, so you can enjoy leftovers cold or reheated the next day without losing flavor.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breast: Go for skinless and boneless to keep things simple and tender. Fresh is great, but frozen works too if that’s what you have.
- Peri peri seasoning: This adds a nice kick to the dish! You can buy it pre-made or mix your own with spices like paprika and chili flakes if you can’t find it.
- Dried pasta: Use your favorite pasta shape for some fun texture! I like something that holds onto the sauce, like penne or fusilli.
- Cream cheese: This is the secret to making the sauce creamy and rich. Full-fat is best, but you can use reduced-fat if you’re looking to lighten it up.
- Chopped tomatoes: They bring a nice tanginess and help create a saucy base. Canned is super convenient, but fresh tomatoes work too if they’re in season.
- Sweetcorn: Adds a nice pop of sweetness for balance. If you don’t have any, feel free to swap it out for any other veggie you like, like bell peppers or zucchini.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Recipe Tips
- If pasta turns mushy, keep an eye on it and cook until it’s just a bit firm in the center.
- For extra flavor, taste as you go and add more peri peri sauce or salt to suit your preference.
- If the sauce seems watery, simmer it a bit longer to allow it to thicken and concentrate the flavors.
- When you want a saucier dish, pour in a bit more stock towards the end for a moist outcome.
- If chicken dries out, cooking it submerged in the sauce can help retain moisture and tenderness.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve peri peri chicken pasta alongside a fresh side salad or some garlic bread. Top the dish with fresh herbs for garnish to enhance the presentation.
- This chicken pasta can also be used in casseroles or meal prep containers for lunch leftovers. Consider adding vegetables for added nutrition and variety in your meals.
- You can drizzle a homemade garlic or chili sauce over the chicken pasta for added flavor. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice also brightens the dish nicely before serving.
Storage Guidelines
- To keep your peri peri chicken pasta fresh, follow these storage tips:
- Refrigeration: Store pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat before serving to warm.
- Freezing: Wrap portions in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheating: Warm in a microwave or on the stovetop until heated through. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating.
Recipe Variations
- You can use shrimp instead of chicken to create a delicious seafood version of this dish.
- Add 1 tsp smoked paprika for a hint of smokiness or 1 tbsp lemon juice for brightness.
- Either add spinach or kale for a fresh touch, or incorporate bell peppers for a crunchy texture.
- If cooking for fewer people, reduce the chicken to 300 g (0.66 lb) and the pasta to 125 g (4.4 oz).
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Creamy Peri-Peri Chicken Pasta
A delicious one-pan creamy pasta dish with chicken, peri-peri seasoning, and vibrant vegetables, perfect for a comforting meal.
Equipment
- Large saucepan
Ingredients
- 2 tsp Olive oil (10 ml)
- 600 g Skinless, boneless chicken breast Chopped
- 2 tsp Peri peri seasoning (10 g)
- 2 Red peppers Sliced
- 1 Red onion Peeled and chopped
- 2 Garlic cloves Peeled and crushed
- 750 ml Chicken stock made from a cube is fine
- 400 g Chopped tomatoes (14.5 oz) x1 tin
- 250 g Dried pasta (9 oz)
- 100 g Cream cheese (3.5 oz)
- 198 g Tin Sweetcorn Drained (7 oz)
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Start by heating olive oil in a large pan over medium heat until it shimmers. The aroma should be warm and inviting as it preps for the chicken. This step ensures the chicken sears nicely, achieving that golden crust. Avoid letting the oil smoke as it can create a bitter flavor.
- Add the chopped chicken to the hot pan and sprinkle peri peri seasoning over it. You will know it is ready when the chicken starts browning and the spices release their fragrant scent. This is all about locking in moisture and flavor. Be careful not to crowd the pan; it can steam rather than brown.
- Toss in the sliced red peppers, chopped onion, and crushed garlic. The colors will brighten your pan and the smell will be mouthwatering. Cooking these adds sweetness and depth to the dish. Just do not let the garlic burn; it turns bitter really quickly.
- Next, carefully add the chicken stock to the mix, watching it bubble and steam. The liquid will help deglaze the pan, lifting all that flavorful goodness stuck on the bottom. Keep an eye out for splashes—you want this to be a flavor bath, not a kitchen mess.
- Add in the tin of chopped tomatoes, mixing well until everything is combined. The vibrant red adds a lovely hue to the dish, and you can smell the freshness. This is where the sauce starts coming together, so do not skip mixing well to prevent clumps of tomato.
- Stir in the dried pasta and bring it to a simmer. You will start seeing the pasta absorbing all those delicious flavors while the whole kitchen fills with warmth. Be sure to stir occasionally to keep it from sticking. Letting it boil over is not ideal, so keep an eye on that!
- After the pasta is cooked, lower the heat and stir in the cream cheese until it is creamy and smooth. You will notice an immediate change in texture, getting really luscious. Make sure it is fully melted for a nice coating. You do not want to miss bits that stay chunky.
- Finally, fold in the drained sweetcorn, seasoning with sea salt and pepper to taste. The sweetcorn pops in your mouth and adds a great crunch. Adjusting your seasoning at the end helps achieve that ultimate flavor. Just be careful not to go overboard with salt.
Notes
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. It is good served cold or reheated the next day. In the freezer, while it is possible to freeze, it may become mushy when defrosted.
If pasta turns mushy, keep an eye on it and cook until it is just a bit firm in the center. For extra flavor, taste as you go and add more peri peri sauce or salt to suit your preference. If the sauce seems watery, simmer it a bit longer to allow it to thicken and concentrate the flavors. When you want a saucier dish, pour in a bit more stock towards the end for a moist outcome. If chicken dries out, cooking it submerged in the sauce can help retain moisture and tenderness.
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