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This Chili Lime Chicken with Creamy Garlic Penne is warm, flavorful, and so simple to make. The marinated chicken is on point!
Penne noodles in a creamy garlic sauce, topped with a chili lime rubbed chicken. This pasta is definitely going in the “keepers” folder!
Pasta is my favorite comfort food. I could eat spaghetti any day, any time. So when summer comes, and I'm always coming up with new pasta dishes to serve with grilled chicken and fresh vegetables! This Chili Lime Chicken with Creamy
Garlic Penne Pasta was one of my dinner experiments that I questioned about half way through, but it ended up being amazing! I loved it, kids loved it, and husband LOVED it. That's what we call a winner folks! I love this dish with fresh garden tomatoes, and I'll often throw in fresh spinach and grilled zucchini if I've got them on hand.
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Chili Lime Chicken with Creamy Garlic Penne
Ingredients
Chili Lime Chicken
- 5-6 chicken tenders, (or 2-3 breasts)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- pinch cayenne pepper
For the Pasta
- 16 ounces uncooked penne pasta
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 1/2 onion, , chopped
- 2 teaspoons garlic, , minced
- 2 heaping Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 ounces cream cheese, , cubed
- 2 tomatoes, , diced
- 2 teaspoons fresh chopped parsley, , minced
- freshly grated parmesan cheese, , optional
Instructions
For the chicken
- Whisk marinade ingredients together in a shallow bowl. Add chicken and marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the penne pasta according to package directions and drain.
- Turn grill to medium heat. Place the chicken on the hot grill, cover with grill lid and cook for a few minutes or until brown on bottom side.
- Flip chicken, cover and cook until cooked through. Remove to a plate to rest.
For the Sauce:
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until tender.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add flour and stir well.
- Add chicken broth and milk and whisk until smooth.
- Add cream cheese and stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add cooked pasta, tomatoes and parsley to the sauce and toss to coat.
- Add grilled chicken on top. Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
This was a hit! Any feedback on if I can freeze this?
Unfortunately I don’t think this is a dish that I would recommend freezing.
This was a really good dish!!!! We were very pleased with this meal and it was really easy to make. I loved the fresh tomatoes in it along with the parsley, it made it taste really fresh. When doing the tomatoes I got the big tomatoes and just used one, I thought that was enough but if you want it with more tomatoes then definitely add two.
This was amazing, the whole family ate this happily and finished their plates! You are my favorite now!
Amazing recipe! I have made this many, many, many times and it is simply incredible! We have used this marinade even when we aren’t making this “meal”. We always cook the marinated chicken on the grill and it makes the flavor out of this world, BUT, we use chicken thighs instead of white meat. I always follow the directions for the pasta, the only difference is that in addition to the chopped tomatoes in the pasta, I also top it with halved grape tomatoes and a healthy sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Absolutely everyone that tries this meal falls in love!
Delicious! The flavors of the chicken and pasta melded perfectly. A definite keeper.
Love this recipe!!!!! My husband and I’s only wish was that we had cooked more chicken! The marinade is delicious and goes so well with the creamy pasta. This is a keeper recipe for SURE!
My picky eaters love this recipe. Marinade is awesome!!! Thank you for these great recipes, it’s been making dinner time a breeze.
Giving this 4 out of 5 stars only because the recipe calls for 2 or 3 chicken breasts. I suggest, if you’re making this for 4 or more people, you use a breast of chicken per person otherwise your family will be FIGHTING over it! I had way too much pasta left over. I think 8 oz. is plenty for 4 people. (unless you like left overs with no protien to go along) This chicken marinade is absolutely amazing!!! I used an entire lime (even pulp) in the marinade and you could definitely taste it. I also used thin cut chicken breast so they were really tender. So much flavor! So delicious! I will seriously be making this again and again!!
Amazing recipe, really wonderful flavors.
This recipe is amazing mmmmm!!! Had to buy most of the spices but well worth it. You have to give this a go as it is so easy but soooo delicious.