One-Pot Kid-Friendly Cheesy Chicken Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender chicken bites and pasta cooked together in a creamy cheese sauce, perfect for a quick and comforting kid-friendly dinner. This American-inspired kid-friendly recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken breasts, elbow macaroni pasta, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 American cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 12 oz cubed chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes until the outside is golden and the chicken is almost cooked through.
  2. Step 2: Add 1 diced small yellow onion and 2 minced garlic cloves to the pot; sauté for 3 minutes until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Pour in 3 cups chicken broth and 1 cup whole milk, then add 8 oz elbow macaroni pasta, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp paprika. Stir to combine.
  4. Step 4: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
  5. Step 5: Remove the pot from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy, coating the pasta and chicken evenly.

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