Chicken and Asparagus Penne Pasta
Penne with chicken and asparagus combines tender chicken, crisp-tender asparagus, and pasta in a light olive oil and chicken broth coating, with garlic, Parmesan, and black pepper adding savory depth. It comes together quickly and makes a simple, satisfying weeknight dinner.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chicken and Asparagus Penne Pasta, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 53 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 11 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 47
- Heart Health
- 64
- Metabolic
- 21
- Digestive
- 26
- Inflammatory
- 55
- Performance
- 46
- General Wellness
- 1
Gather the ingredients.
- 2
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.
- 3
While the pasta is cooking, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in chicken and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until chicken is browned and the juices run clear, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Transfer chicken to a paper towel-lined plate.
- 5
Pour chicken broth into the skillet. Add asparagus, garlic, and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and steam until asparagus is just tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
- 6
Return chicken to the skillet and cook until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
- 7
Transfer drained penne to a large bowl. Pour the chicken mixture over the pasta and mix until well combined. Let sit for about 5 minutes.
- 8
Stir in the remaining olive oil, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Calories 261.02 kcal Moderate 13%
- Protein 20.97 g Good Source 42%
- Carbohydrate 21.15 g 8%
- Total Fat 10.84 g Moderate 14%
- Saturated Fat 2.11 g Moderate 11%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 41.11 mg Moderate 14%
- Sodium 123.04 mg Moderate 5%
- Dietary Fiber 1.99 g Low Source 7%
- Total Sugars 1.89 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 93.53 mg Low Source 7%
- Iron 1.87 mg Moderate 10%
- Potassium 115.54 mg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin A 35.34 mcg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin C 3.3 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Chicken and Asparagus Penne Pasta is made with 12 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 35 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Asparagus, Black Pepper, Chicken Breast, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 261.02 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chicken and Asparagus Penne Pasta made of?
- The main ingredients are Asparagus, Black Pepper, Chicken Breast, Garlic, Garlic Powder. The full list of 12 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chicken and Asparagus Penne Pasta?
- About 35 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 261.02 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chicken and Asparagus Penne Pasta easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 12 ingredients and 8 steps.
- Is Chicken and Asparagus Penne Pasta healthy?
- Chicken and Asparagus Penne Pasta has an easyChef Pro health score of 51/100. Per serving, it provides 261.02 calories and 20.97 g of protein, or 42% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 123.04 mg (5% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 2.11 g (11% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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