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This creamy Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta is out of this world! Salsa verde and gooey pepper jack cheese kick this chicken pasta over the top. Made in just one dish, it’s perfect in every single way!This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

The Best Chicken Pasta Recipe

You GUYS. I seriously cannot get over this recipe. It is so ultra creamy and cheesy!

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

So gooey! So creamy! So cheesy!!! This is one you will seriously make over and over!!!

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

And check out how ridiculously easy it is. This is all you need! Pasta, cream, chicken broth, salsa verde, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and shredded cheese.

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

How to Make This Easy Chicken Pasta

Start by cutting the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch cubes. Season with salt and pepper. Heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken and cook for about 5 minutes, until golden brown, flipping once halfway through.

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

Remove those beautiful golden chicken nuggets to a plate. I could seriously just eat these as a meal!

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

In the same skillet add the broth, salsa verde, cream, pasta, and salt and pepper to taste. I use about 1/2 teaspoon each.

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

Turn off the heat, then add the chicken and cheese and stir to combine until smooth and creamy. I am using Pepper Jack cheese for a little extra kick. Goes great with the salsa verde! :)

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

If desired, top with a little more shredded cheese and broil in the oven until golden and bubbly.

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

So, so, fabulous.

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

Garnish with a little parsley or cilantro if desired.

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

Gooey, creamy, cheesy, delicious chicken pasta! We love this one!! :)

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

This pasta is out of this world!! So ultra creamy and cheesy. We will it make over and over!!!!

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Image of Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta

Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 5 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stove
  • Cuisine: Italian

Description

This creamy Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta is out of this world! Salsa verde and gooey pepper jack cheese kick this chicken pasta over the top. Made in just one dish, it’s perfect in every single way!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup salsa verde
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 3 cups uncooked penne pasta
  • salt and pepper to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon each)
  • 1 1/2 cups pepper jack cheese, shredded

Instructions

  1. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces (about 1-inch cubes). Season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is very hot, add the chicken in a single layer. Cook for 5 minutes, until golden brown, flipping once halfway through. Remove to a plate and set aside.
  2. Add the broth, salsa verde, cream, uncooked pasta, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Cover, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
  3. Turn off the heat, then add the chicken and 1 cup of cheese to the skillet. Stir until smooth and creamy. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and broil in the oven until golden brown and bubbly, about 3 minutes. Serve and enjoy!! :)

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90 Responses
  1. SouthernNC

    I needed to let you know I’ve been making this recipe of YOURS for YEARS now!! My son requests it at least once a month and I love it just as much even after making it for several years now. One of my favorite chicken/pasta dishes that I don’t intend to ever stop making for many more years to come. :-)






  2. Erin

    Our family favorite!!! My daughter is 7 and doesn’t like spice. I pull some out for her before adding cheese and I put mozzarella on hers, then I add jalapeño jack cheese to ours. Super yummy!!!

  3. Janice

    My husband and I loved this! It was better than I expected! For those who don’t like spice, just use a mild salsa verde. I used chickpea pasta, and it was great.






  4. TT & KK

    This recipe has been the foundation of an eight year long friendship. From the sprawling campus of Mizzou in Columbia, MO to the concrete jungle of Chicago, this recipe has held us together just like the cheesy goodness in this dish. The spice in this pasta is the spice of our life. Tonight we toast to our 100th recreation of your masterpiece and to the lovely couple, Kevin & Amanda . Thank you for selflessly giving us the secret ingredient to a long lasting friendship!

    Love,
    TT & KK






  5. Jacque

    I have made this many times just as directed and it’s delicious. Tonight I added a 10 oz can of Rotel and reduced the broth to one cup-it was amazing and delicious! Added a little more depth and color.






  6. Abigail

    love this recipe so much. It is a go-to favorite for the fam. My question would be would substituting regular salsa for the salsa verde make it taste bad? Went to make it and realized I only had regular salsa in the pantry.






  7. Mary Crawford

    Made this for dinner tonight and my husband and I LOVED it!! Made it in the instant pot and used different cheese (Monterey Jack with jalapenos) since our store didn’t have pepper jack. So quick and easy! Definitely adding it to our list of go-to dinners!






    1. Melissa

      Would love to know the directions for the instant pot… I’m a new instant pot user and a bit intimidated still :)

  8. Jennifer

    So easy & so good! It’s just two of, but we are suckers for cheese. I halved everything except the cheese & it was perfect for us! Will definitely make again. Thanks for sharing!






  9. Kim Briggs

    I made this for dinner tonight and it is totally worthy of being on my monthly rotation. So good and I cannot wait to have it for leftovers tomorrow. 

  10. Katie Nielson

    I made this tonight and it was SO amazing I had to leave a comment.  I don’t usually write recipe reviews but this one is to die for!  I followed the recipe exactly and it was so delicious.  Cheesey, gooey, with a little kick!  Even my three year old gobbled it right up. I will make this again and again, I wanted to keep eating it forever!  Thank you for all the amazing recipes!

  11. Kristy

    Trying to figure out weight watcher points for this, because I just love it so much!!! What is your serving size in cups? Can’t figure out what 344 grams is…

  12. Sharon

    Excellent recipe! Hubby loved it! There was noting left. I think I’m going to make it for the office next week. Thank you for sharing!

  13. Julie

    I love this! I’ve made it twice and it turned out perfect. My two year old loved it too! It was spicy but he loves spicy so he gobbled it up! It’s so easy and so delicious! 

  14. Cat

    Dang, that was good! Used 1/2 and 1/2, and added a sauteed jalapeno pepper, and cut down on the pepper jack cheese. Spicy and good!

  15. Danielle

    This sounds wonderful! What a great recipe. I love the use of pepper jack, but I’d prob add some more green chilies to up the spice factor!

  16. Lee Ann Ferguson

    I just made this and it was pretty tasty. Not too spicy which I was concerned with since I’m a wimp. But I have a question, is it supposed to be a creamy white sauce or just a coating on the noodles & meat? Mine was a bit of a gag factor of almost too thick of a cheese feeling to it. I added more heavy cream but I’m wondering if I had the wrong cheese choice. Used Colby jack and havarti Swiss since that’s all I had. 

  17. Patti

    Love this recipe.  Halved it because there are only two of us.  Had to sub cheddar for the pepper jack so I added some canned hot jalapeños. Wonderfully creamy and spicy!

  18. Elizabeth

    Thanks so much! It tasted great and was easy. I used leftover roasted chicken thigh meat, which I store cubed in my freezer, and I incorporated a little steamed broccoli when the pasta was done to give more vegetables. My family especially thought the broccoli was enhanced by this sauce.

  19. Kristyn

    I made this the other night and oh my gosh it’s so good!!! Super easy and delicious! Next time I might add a little more spice but other than that I give it a two thumbs up! 

  20. Juanita Robinson

    I made this dish and my family couldn’t get enough of it. I did alter it some.
    Instead of cooking penne pasta in mixture, I cooked it separately and added it to mixture, therefore leaving out the chicken broth. I did however, use some of the broth when sautéing the chicken. It was absolutely delicious! Thanks

  21. Nads

    I JUST made this recipe, and it was so easy to make! Not to mention DELICIOUS. My hubby hardly raves about my cooking (haha) but he loved this! Thank you!

  22. Yosbely

    Just made this! Super easy and quick to make! It tasted super delicious! I did make my own homemade salsa verde and added chicken bouillon cubes to replace the salt and it tastes great! Thanks

  23. Josalyn

    Made this for dinner tonight and loved it! I made it with whole wheat pasta and added spinach at the end with the chicken and cheese. Then I got thinking, how yummy would this be as a cheesy chicken and rice type dish… If I wanted to subsitute rice for the pasta, do you have a suggestion on the ratio of liquid? If I did like a cup and a half of uncooked rice and kept the current liquid? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! 

  24. Meredith

    Hello! This looks delicious! Could I sub an alternative milk for the cream? I have a dtr with a dairy allergy. Just worried itnwill be soupy since milk is more thin than cream.

    1. Aubrey

      Came to ask the same question. I was thinking of subbing coconut cream. My son can’t have dairy

  25. Michelle Williams

    This will be the second time I make this dish for my family.  This dish is wonderful , it has the most intense and amazing flavor. I add a little chopped cilantro to finished product for color. Great recipe and thanks for sharing.

  26. Jackie

    I can not even handle how much I love this recipe. I make a double batch and freeze in individual servings for the following week. SO GOOD! Thank you :-)

  27. NonaMel

    I made this tonight and it was outstanding! I can’t eat spicy, so I used regular jack cheese instead of pepper jack. Other than that, I followed the recipe exactly and everyone in my family loved it. I’ll definitely be making this again! Thanks for a great -and easy- recipe!

  28. Maryvel

    What kind of Salsa Verde do you buy that is NOT spicy? The only one I can find here (I’m in Canada) is pretty spicy hot! I always have to make my own salsa verde and mix it with the bought staff to bring down the spiciness, can’t stand spicy hot. Thank you!

    1. NonaMel

      If they carry this brand in Canada, you will find that Herdez green salsa will work very well and not be spicy at all. Make sure you buy the one labeled mild.

  29. Darlene

    Thank you for a wonderful recipe! I made this tonight for dinner. So quick and easy! My husband kept repeating, “This is a keeper!”

  30. nicole

    made this tonight and loved it! added two small chopped bell peppers for some color and crunch, for those who asked about adding a vegetable. sautéed the peppers with the chicken- think it’d be great with broccoli too. thanks for the quick and tasty recipe!

  31. Samantha

    I pinned this just because it looked really good. When I first tasted the salsa verde I thought oh no, it tastes like relish, it’s not going to taste good. But I read the other comments and they all said how good the dish came out so I continued to make it. Let me tell you, this is added to my family’s menu! I used regular milk instead of cream and I didn’t have pepper jack cheese so I just used 6 cheese Italian. There were no leftovers!

  32. Keli

    I am looking for a recipe to serve a crowd (12 people). This sounds delicious. So that there wouldn’t be so much preparation at the last minute when your guests arrive, do you think it would be ok to prepare it as directed but then place it in a pyrex dish and keep warm in an oven until ready to serve? Do you have any recommendations for serving this to a crowd?
    Thanks so much.

  33. Jackie

    Made this earlier this week & I thought it was fantastic! I love all green based mexican sauces, just spicy enough without setting your mouth on fire! I’ve eaten 3 helpings in as many days & it was yummy each time! Thanks for my new favorite pasta dish!!?

  34. Nicolee

    I was at a total loss as to what to make today so last night I browsed Pinterest and found this recipe and made it today. It was so darn good and creamy just as you said it would be. It was super easy too with very few ingredients. I used Fiesta Cheese instead of Pepper Jack as I didn’t have time to shred the block of pepper jack but it was still very good. I think next time with the Pepper Jack and a dash or so of hot sauce it will be even better . . . we do like things spicy :-) Thank you for a wonderful recipe!!

    P.S. I love how you describe everything and show the pictures!

  35. Melanie Segalla

    Just made this tonight for my kids! Only change is I made it with whole grain pasta and half n half, but otherwise I followed the recipe exactly! My kids thought it was DELICIOUS!! Three out of four cleaned their plates (and the one who didn’t is my daughter who we can’t figure out how she stays alive on the 7 bites of food she eats a day). In my family, this is considered a top ten meal!! Thanks for posting, will make this again and again!!

  36. Donna

    I made this today and it was super yummy !!!!! I like spice so I added some red pepper flakes to the chicken while it cooked. Definitely a family favorite

  37. Greg

    ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!! Thank you so much for posting. Hey, I have a Boston Terrier, too…he just loves to follow me in the kitchen (for obvious reasons)!!! This is too spicy for him, but not us humans! My only change: in addition to the salt and pepper on the chicken, I added sprinklings of garlic powder, onion powder, white pepper, cumin, and coriander. Not too much–just enough to lightly coat the chicken before browning. Added to the flavor bomb!

  38. Brandy

    Made this tonight and it was SO good!! Thank you, I love all of your recipes! I’ve made quite a few and they are always delicious and versatile.

  39. Shantae

    Oh my goodness this is good! And so easy! Very little hands on time and you have a great meal in under 30 minutes (put on a pot of broccoli while the pasta cooks). This will definitely be made again. I skipped the broiling step and added all the cheese at once, then put the top back on and let sit 5 minutes to thicken. Thanks for the great recipe!

  40. Michelle Lubbers

    This dish came together beautifully! I used rotisserie chicken and mozzerella cheese since I had those on hand, I am glad I did. I found it to be plenty spicy at first bite, I don’t ‘expect my kids to go for it. It was my first time having salsa verde… and this was the perfect way to try it out. it reminds me of chicken enchiladas with green chilis, pasta style. One pot meals make my night!

  41. Darla

    This is by far one of the best recipes I have ever found online. So simple and quick.
    I get lazy and make it all the time without the chicken. So frigging yummy. Great microwaved the next day for lunch too. Anybody up in Canada use the Loblaws brand black label Tomatillo Salsa. Super delicious.
    Thank you for posting guys!!

  42. Emilee

    I made this tonight and it was amazing! I used mozzarella because that is what I had, and it turned out great! I will definitely be making this again. Thank you for the recipe.

  43. Susy

    Made this tonight. I did not have cream, so, I used evaporated milk. I also added 2 tablespoons chopped jalapenos because we like things spicy. Very good. I will make again!

    Found your recipe on Pinterest!

  44. Sue Spiersch

    I made this tonight and it was fabulous. My husband couldn’t stop talking about it. I forgot to get pepper jack cheese so I used regular jack. It had a nice kick to it already so maybe the pepper jack might be too much. Also, I had some tomatoes off of our tomato bush and my husband said “why not chop up those two tomatoes and put them on top. The tomatoes added a really fresh taste and a whole different element to the dish. This one’s a keeper. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

  45. Stephanie

    Awesome, I didn’t have salsa verde so I used mild salsa instead. I wasn’t sure it would turn out, but everyone loved it!

  46. Cindy

    Hi! This sounds great. I don’t have heavy whipping cream though – I bought 1/2 and 1/2 by mistake. It is about 10% fat. Do you think it will work?

  47. Lisa

    Love your recipes!!!! Everything looks so yummy. Thank you for sharing and I’m most definitely a follower on Pinterest.

  48. Linda

    Salsa Verde Chicken pasta – new family favorite. so quick and easy to make – yummy and they all love it! Love that you share so many recipes and the way you share them – the photo with all of the ingredients and then step by step instructions with photos and an easy to print version. Thank you for sharing.

  49. Kate @ Framed Cooks

    You had me at gooey/creamy! The salsa verde part…I love it. Takes this to whole new levels of chicken and mac and cheese wonderfulness. Pinning!

  50. Courtney

    I made this the day you posted it and my [extremely] picky hubby and I LOVED it! I added a few dashes of hot sauce to kick up the spicy factor and it was wonderful. I’m wondering if this recipe would freeze well if I bake it ahead of time? I’m trying to stock up on freezer meals since we’re expecting a little one in a few months and I can’t imagine not having this recipe on hand!

  51. Valerie

    I just made this for dinner last night! I was going to use the pepper jack cheese, but it was too spicy for my 6 and 8 year old. I used mozzarella and montery jack cheese instead and instead and it was amazing!

  52. Angie Brooks

    Oh boy, thanks for the recipe. Have been looking for easy recipes to add to the menu in my house.I made it a day after I saw it and my children LOVED it. have added it to my recipe book.

  53. HYoung

    This looks fantastic and pretty simple. I think it’ll be a winner with my kids too. Looks like I have a dinner plan for tomorrow. Thanks!

  54. CindyML

    Making this right now. Had to come to the big computer to look at photos and make sure I didn’t cook pasta beforehand. My daughter saw the email with the picture of the pasta while we were waiting for her passport photos and said THIS IS DINNER!!!

  55. Skye

    This looks fabulous. I’ve never use Salsa verde before – is it spicy (don’t like spicy) and is there a close substitute you can use?

    1. Amanda

      Hey girl!! It is not spicy at all. I LOVE it!! Give it a try. Taste it before you make the pasta. I could seriously just eat it out of the jar with a spoon!! It’s supposed to be for chips (like regular salsa, but it’s not spicy like regular salsa) but I don’t even need the chips, lol! I like salsa verde way better than regular salsa. :) Hope this helps! :)

    2. Amy

      It depends on how you make it, the base recipe typically isn’t spicy. It’s really easy to make and customize. My husband is straight up Mexican so I grill some serrano peppers and add them in for a real kick. If you don’t want spicy just don’t add peppers.

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Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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