Creamy Italian Chicken & Pasta Skillet

Super scrumptious chicken and creamy pasta is on the table today! Top with fresh basil and enjoy this delicious meal on busy weeknights. It makes great leftovers, too!

Creamy Italian Chicken & Pasta Skillet – Super scrumptious chicken and creamy pasta is a delicious meal on busy weeknights. It makes great leftovers, too! | thecomfortofcooking.com

On the weekdays, I live for one-pot wonders like this! I love just being able to throw it all in one pan, mix up a quick salad for the side, and sit down to dinner without much fuss. Dinner is so much more delicious when you’re not spending it thinking about all the dishes that need to be done!This scrumptious skillet meal, made with Kraft’s delicious Zesty Italian Anything Dressing, was super easy and a huge hit with my hubby. I use this dressing as the base for lots of delicious meals and since I very first learned to cook, it’s been a staple in my kitchen! The dressing is tangy and robust, with fabulous flavor from the vinegar, red peppers, onions and garlic… perfect for easily adding a bit of zest to salads or skillet dishes like this!

Creamy Italian Chicken & Pasta Skillet – Super scrumptious chicken and creamy pasta is a delicious meal on busy weeknights. It makes great leftovers, too! | thecomfortofcooking.com

Into a pan to sizzle in the dressing goes your chicken, onions, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, artichokes and some seasonings. After bubbling and simmering, toss in cream cheese and give it a good stir. Your favorite pasta goes right in and cooks in the sauce (oh, yeah baby!), and once it’s done just sprinkle with fresh parsley or basil – voila!

Creamy Italian Chicken & Pasta Skillet

Creamy Italian Chicken & Pasta Skillet

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
  • 1 lb. 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 8 oz. each cans tomato sauce
  • 1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 14.5 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 4 oz. 1/2 of 8-oz. pkg. Philadelphia Cream Cheese, cubed, softened
  • 2 1/2 cups uncooked whole grain pasta, or 4 cups cooked
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or basil

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet set to medium-high heat, add dressing. Once hot, add chicken and onions. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and chicken is mostly cooked.
  2. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, artichoke hearts, Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer. Stir in cream cheese. Once blended through, stir in uncooked pasta and cover. Continue to simmer, cooking pasta according to package instructions (usually 10 minutes for rotini). The pasta will cook in the sauce.*
  3. Stir in parsley or basil, and serve.
  4. Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

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Join the Conversation

  1. Avilene Cueto says:

    Hi Georgia!

    This recipe looks delicious, as do all the recipes you post. I will surely have to try it next week. A few days ago I made phyllo tartlets following your recipe for a potluck at work and it was a huge hit! Everyone was raving about it and asked for the recipe so I referred them to your lovely blog.

    I hope you know how much your readers appreciate and admire your work. I have never been disappointed when following one of your recipes, I am just hooked to your blog!

  2. Avilene Cueto says:

    I follow you on Facebook!

  3. Avilene Cueto says:

    I also follow you on twitter @Avilenec

  4. Avilene Cueto says:

    And I follow you on Pinterest too!
    Did I already mention I love your blog?!

  5. would love this bracelet!!!!

  6. I follow you on facebook!

  7. This is sooo genius! I love the dressing in this skillet meal. I bet it gives it a delish yet unique flavor profile.

  8. i always dread doing this dishes so the fewer there are, the better! I love all of the flavors in this. Total comfort food!

  9. I love one pot meals. Less clean you have after dinner, the better. This pasta looks so good. I will definitely be giving this recipe a try soon.

  10. Hey there! Oh my, what a great, easy idea. I’m always looking for new weeknight pasta dishes, and this one looks like a winner Georgia!

  11. This is such a fun way to Italian dressing. I would never have thought!

  12. One pot (skillet) wonders rock! I read your site all the time!

  13. What a comforting an delicious pasta dish!

  14. This looks delicious, also very easy and fast so perfect for a quick meal.

  15. Sara Burnette says:

    This recipe looks delicious! I would love to win the bracelet!

  16. Oh um? I love this! it is so pretty and easy and just awesome!! Love!!

    Fun giveaway too! I of course already following along!!

    Happy Memorial day weekend!

  17. Does being a neighbor have more weight??? You know I love everything you make, especially when it makes it to our house!
    Oh, and I love, love, Fendi – it is my favorite perfume of all time!

  18. Thank you for the chance to win this very cool bracelet.

  19. It’s cold and rainy here today and a dish this this would warm us all up. Looks delish!

  20. That looks amazing! YUM! Love the bracelet too! Following you on Pinterest and Twitter. :)

  21. This recipe looks super easy and delicious!

  22. Liked on Facebook!

  23. Following on Twitter!

  24. Following on Pinterest!

  25. All my co-workers are hooked on your blog.

  26. allison baribault says:

    I am printing this receipe as I type. Gonna make it for the Memorial Day Weekend Bbq here in NYC………Yum

  27. tessa liford says:

    This sounds delicious! I am never without a bottle of zesty italian dressing. I love artichokes as well. : )

  28. I would LOVE a wrap-around Fendi bracelet!

  29. Kim Porter says:

    Yes, this post did make me crave pasta at 10 a.m. !!!

  30. Kim Porter says:

    Following The Comfort of Cooking on Twitter

  31. Kim Porter says:

    Following you on Pinterest.

  32. Kim Porter says:

    Following The Comfort of Cooking on Facebook

  33. Chelsea Gates says:

    Looks delicious!! And conveniently times since I’ve been trying to decide on something simple to make for dinner tonight!

  34. This pasta skillet looks amazing – so creamy and full of goodness!

  35. This looks like an awesome comfort dinner! Love the bracelet, too!

  36. I like you on Facebook!

  37. I follow you on Pinterest!

  38. This looks so tasty, Georgia! A perfect weeknight meal!

  39. Love one dish meals! This creamy pasta dish sounds amazing!

  40. The recipe looks delicious and that bracelet is gorgeous!

  41. I follow you on Twitter!

  42. I also follow you on Pinterest!

  43. This looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try it tomorrow!

  44. I liked you on facebook!

  45. Okay, I totally want to cancel any dinner plans I had tonight and make this instead. It looks AWESOME, Georgia! So light and flavorful. I’m obsessed with using salad dressing while cooking to add that extra little kick to dishes.

  46. Thank you for your great recipes!!! (and pick me please)

  47. I followed you on Twitter :)

  48. … and Liked on facebook too!

  49. katelyn c says:

    this looks yummy! will have to try!!!

  50. I will follow you on Twitter, too.

    I MUST have that bracelet!!!!! X

  51. spacemonkey1138 says:

    Oo, thank you for such a unique giveaway!

  52. That is such a yummy looking pasta with a beautiful bracelet to match. I love one-pot meals – so convenient and great for busy mums xx

  53. Katherine says:

    I just made this pasta dish and it is pretty delicious, however I think next time I will par-boil the pasta for a few minutes so that it doesn’t take as long and so that the sauce doesn’t burn to the bottom of the pan (I didn’t have a non-stick large enough to make this recipe so I made it in my dutch oven…so while waiting for the pasta to cook some of the sauce burned to the bottom. Not enough to effect the flavor though!)

    I added about 1/2 a teaspoon of sugar to cut the acidity. I also used about 1/2 a teaspoon of dried basil in addition to the fresh basil I used at the end.

    Thanks for posting this!

  54. Oh, girl…you really know how to “do” Italian Chicken & Pasta dishes! And, not only that, but photograph them so beautifully! Seriously, I’m just blown away by your food styling and photography. You really do inspire me! And, wow…such an “easy peasy lemony squeezy” weeknight dinner recipe packed with flavah! Thanks for sharing and have a fabulous Memorial Day weekend, Georgia!

  55. This pasta looks amazing!!

  56. This looks absolutely delicious, and so easy! I’m going to cook this tomorrow for dinner, so thanks for sharing :)

    dhsauers(at)gmail.com

  57. I liked your page on Facebook as Danielle Sauers
    dhsauers(at)gmail.com

  58. I’m following you on Twitter as @seeshoplove
    dhsauers(at)gmail.com

  59. I pinned this entry here:
    http://pinterest.com/pin/15058979976740383/

    dhsauers(at)gmail.com

  60. I’m following you on Pinterest as Danielle Sauers (pinterest.com/sixfourthree)
    dhsauers(at)gmail.com

  61. Catharine says:

    Wow, the recipe looks delish and I’m hoping I am the lucky one! :)

  62. the recipe looks so tasty and simple. yum. thanks for the giveaway too.

  63. Looks exquisite especially with the cream cheese!

  64. Oh I would LOVE that bracelet. And I definitely want to make this pasta :)

  65. I follow you on Facebook already!

  66. Follow you on twitter already as well!

  67. Also already follow you on Pinterest!

  68. This looks fantastic! Definitely adding this to my menu soon! The bracelet is gorg!

  69. I love skillet meals and they even seem to be easier to wash up after, am I right?

  70. My gosh, the colors in that pasta are just divine. I adore Kraft dressings…nothing better than cold pasta tossed with their Italian dressing!

  71. I always make creamy tomato sauce for my pasta and add in little cubes of mozzarella (we call it Penne al Telefono in Italy because the stringy mozzarella resembles the old telephone wires). I’ll have to try it with chicken to pack that extra protein punch!! Sembra fantastico e delizioso :D

  72. I seriously love simple one pot meals like this Georgia. It looks wonderful. I’m going to add it to my weeknight meal arsenal :)

  73. I follow you on Pinterest AND I’m gonna pin this to my giveaway board :)

  74. Love, love, love your recipes!!!! Simple and tasty.

  75. Oooh I love this dish. It looks amazing. I love that you used the Kraft dressing to give it some zing.. I bet this was awesome. Great recipe!

  76. Urban Wife says:

    This dish sounds fabulous. I’m all about simple weeknight meals too.

  77. Urban Wife says:

    I’m a follower on Pinterest.

  78. This sounds super easy! and cheap for college kids on budgets like myself;)

  79. followed on twitter!

  80. I follow you on Pinterest! :)

  81. Following on Facebook! :)

  82. What a delicious looking recipe! I think I may just give it a try using some gluten-free pasta. Nothing quite like a delicious comfort meal to warm the soul!

  83. Elizabeth says:

    LOVE how delicious this recipe looks and how unique the giveaway is!

  84. Thanks for hosting such a neat giveaway!

  85. Looks delicious! subscribed; bracelet or not. Love that photo!

    So happy I dropped by this evening …bracelet is perfect for all outfits…just love the simple elegance of it.

    You never know! Good luck everyone! Super cute!

  86. Oh, yeah…this looks amazing! Definitely pinning (and I can’t believe I wasn’t following you on Pinterest already!).

    PS…thanks for the kind words of sympathy. It’s been tough.

  87. Follow you on FB

  88. Follow you on Twitter

  89. Follow you on Pinterest…and pinned this dish :)

    PS…great giveaway!

  90. Seriously drooling over this recipe! Can’t wait to make it!

  91. Can I please have a huge bite right now? :D

    Cheers
    CCU

  92. Beautiful photos, so vibrant and I want to reach right in with my fork and devour it all! It looks delicious!

  93. Perfect holiday weekend meal! I’m excited to make this tonight! Cheers!

  94. Following you now on facebook….looking forward to reading more great dinner ideas!

  95. I came to read this yummy looking recipe and got a bonus giveaway! This is so fun!

  96. Interesting way to use bottled dressing! I really like it. I’m a sucker for anything with pasta, and this really looks terrific – thanks so much!

  97. I’m making this week for dinner. It looks like the perfect chicken dish. I’ll just add a salad! Thanks for posting!

  98. Following you on Pinterest! :)

  99. This pasta looks so simple and SO delicious! I adore it!

  100. One pot meals are much needed in my house! Can’t wait to give this pasta dish a try – Jason would devour this in seconds!

  101. I’ve followed you on twitter for a few weeks now and I’ve made quite a few of your recipes! Haven’t let me down when it comes to taste, flavor and the time I spend.. Thank you so much!

  102. 5 stars
    oh my gosh. This pasta looks like perfection. With the fresh basil and chicken! oh. I want this for lunch! I am adding this to our to cook list!

  103. I know the awesome giveaway is already over, but I had to pop over and say that this pasta skillet looks SO good. Totally my type of meal!

  104. Like Amy, I just had to pop over to comment how delish this skillet is. Total yum!

  105. Good post. Allowing you to just throw in the ingredients seems to make skillet meals wonderful. Thanks for posting.

  106. looks delicious!

  107. following on facebook

  108. and following on twitter!

  109. and following on pinterest!

  110. 5 stars
    Just made this tonight and it was DELICIOUS! Sharing with my facebook followers!

  111. This was awesome! My kids wouldnt eat it because the pepper flakes made ot too hot for them. I accidentally didnt drain the tomatoes but it still came out great. I didnt care for all the onion so next time I’ll use half an onion. I even added some garlic powder. Great flavors!!

  112. 5 stars
    I’m very glad I discovered your blog/website….I enjoy your recipes very much!

  113. 5 stars
    This recipe looks amazing!

  114. 5 stars
    I made this last night and used Olive Garden Light Italian Dressing instead of Kraft because thats what I had in my refrigerator. I also added a little garlic salt as an added seasoning. Note that the pasta takes time to cook but it will eventually cook to perfection. I kept the lid on the whole time to help with the cooking process. At the end I added some fresh mozzarella and it turned out fantastic. Loving this one pot wonder!!!

  115. Hi, can you omit the Artichokes? Will it still be good?

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