Here’s a rich, restaurant-style Creamy Mushroom & Asparagus Chicken Penne — tender chicken, earthy mushrooms, crisp asparagus, and pasta tossed in a silky garlic Parmesan cream sauce.

🍗🍄 Creamy Mushroom & Asparagus Chicken Penne

⏱ Prep: 15 minutes
⏱ Cook: 30 minutes
🍽 Serves: 4

🛒 Ingredients

Pasta

12 oz penne pasta
Salt (for pasta water)

Chicken

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-size pieces)
Salt & black pepper
½ tsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp olive oil (divided)

Vegetables

8 oz mushrooms (cremini or white), sliced
1 bunch asparagus, trimmed & cut into 1-inch pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small shallot or ½ small onion, finely diced

Cream Sauce

1 cup heavy cream
½ cup chicken broth
¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp butter
½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
½ tsp dried thyme (or 1 tsp fresh)
1 tsp lemon juice (optional, brightens flavor)

Garnish

Fresh parsley or basil
Extra Parmesan

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Cook penne until al dente according to package directions.
Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.

2️⃣ Cook the Chicken

Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Cook chicken 5–6 minutes until golden and cooked through.
Remove and set aside.

3️⃣ Sauté Vegetables

Add remaining olive oil to the skillet.
Cook mushrooms 4–5 minutes until browned and their moisture cooks off.
Add shallot and garlic; sauté 30 seconds.
Add asparagus and cook 3–4 minutes until tender-crisp.

4️⃣ Make the Cream Sauce

Lower heat to medium.
Add butter, then pour in chicken broth and heavy cream.
Stir in thyme and red pepper flakes.

Simmer 3–5 minutes until slightly thickened.

Stir in Parmesan gradually until melted and smooth.

5️⃣ Combine Everything

Return chicken to the skillet.
Add drained pasta and toss to coat.
If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time.

Finish with lemon juice (optional) and adjust seasoning.

🌿 Garnish & Serve

Top with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan.
Serve immediately while creamy and hot.

🔥 Flavor Variations

Garlic Lovers: Add 2 extra cloves garlic.
Lighter Version: Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
White Wine Boost: Deglaze mushrooms with ¼ cup dry white wine before adding cream.
Extra Veggies: Add spinach or sun-dried tomatoes.

If you’d like, I can also give you:

A one-pot version
A baked casserole version
Or a lighter meal-prep version 🥦🍝