Description
Velveeta chicken rotini pasta brings together tender chicken, twirly pasta, and creamy cheese sauce into one comforting dish that your family can enjoy in about 30 minutes. The simple ingredients you combine create a smooth, satisfying meal that tastes homemade without demanding much from your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein:
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
Cheese and Dairy:
- 8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
Seasonings and Garnish:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with salted water and bring it to a rolling boil at 212°F, then add your 12 oz of rotini pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes until the pasta reaches an al dente texture, following the package timing for your specific brand.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat at 350°F, then add your 3 minced garlic cloves and let them cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to let them turn brown.
- Pour your 1 cup of heavy cream into the saucepan and stir as it comes to a gentle simmer at around 180°F, keeping your attention on it so nothing sticks to the bottom.
- Add your 8 oz of cubed Velveeta cheese to the cream mixture and stir constantly until it melts completely into a smooth texture, which typically takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in your 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese until it’s fully melted and combined with the sauce, taking about another 2 minutes for everything to blend together.
- Mix in 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, then taste the sauce and adjust the salt and pepper to match your preference, adding a splash of pasta water if your sauce feels too thick.
- Combine the drained 12 oz rotini pasta and your 2 cups of diced cooked chicken breast into the cheese sauce and gently fold everything together so each piece gets coated evenly.
- Transfer the pasta mixture to serving bowls and top with extra shredded mozzarella if you like, then place under a broiler at 450°F for 2-3 minutes until the cheese bubbles and turns golden on top.
Notes
- Keep your heat at medium when simmering the cream so the sauce stays smooth instead of breaking or becoming grainy from too much direct heat.
- Add pasta water a little at a time if your sauce thickens too much while sitting, since the starch helps thin it out naturally without watering down the cheese flavor.
- Cook your chicken breast separately beforehand and dice it into bite-sized pieces so it distributes evenly throughout each bite of pasta.
- For a lighter version, swap the heavy cream for half-and-half or whole milk, though your sauce won’t be quite as rich and creamy.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: More Chicken Recipes
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 630 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg