Chicken Primavera Skillet
Chicken Primavera is a light skillet meal with crisp veggies, tender pasta, and a simple white wine cream sauce. A fresh and healthy spring dinner.
Not all pasta dishes need to be heavy and loaded down with sauce. This Chicken Primavera Skillet meal is designed to be light and fresh but still satisfying in every way.
When I refer to this dish at home, I call it my "girl dinner" because it highlights everything I love in a meal--fresh vegetables, simply seasoned chicken, and a light sauce that enhances rather than overpowers. My husband enjoys it as well, but this one is definitely tailored more to my taste for meals that feel balanced, bright, and easy to enjoy.
It also makes fantastic leftovers as the flavors sit and marry together in the fridge, it is just as enjoyable to eat the next day!
What Does Primavera Mean?
Primavera means "Spring" in Italian. In terms of cooking, it refers to dishes that highlight fresh ingredients, specifically vegetables and herbs.
I have a simple Pasta Salad Primavera here on my website, but adding chicken and serving it out of a warm skillet is an easy, healthy way to turn those same fresh flavors into a more cozy and filling meal.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
You'll love this recipe because it's not heavy or overly creamy. It's packed with lots of fresh vegetables, lean chicken, and pasta for a perfect balance of protein, carbs, and great flavor. It also comes together quickly enough for a busy weeknight or lazy weekend.
Ingredients You Need
- Chicken- I use two smaller chicken breasts for this recipe because breast meat is lean and cooks quickly.
- Seasonings for the chicken- salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, dried parsley
- Olive oil for sautéing the chicken.
- Pasta- Any medium shape pasta works. Cavatappi is one of my favorites. The spiral shape pasta captures the sauce nicely.
- Vegetables- broccoli, zucchini, carrots, garlic, red onion, frozen peas
- Fresh herbs include dill, parsley, and basil. You can get creative with herbs you enjoy.
- Light cream sauce- dry white wine, half and half, parmesan cheese
- Tomatoes (optional) These can be tossed in with the veggies or add at the very end for a juicy pop.
Highlighted Tip
This chicken primavera is very easy to customize with vegetables you have on hand or enjoy. Use your favorite medium shape pasta, and you can leave out the chicken or swap it for shrimp. This is not a fussy recipe so have fun with it!
How To Make Chicken Primavera
Here, I provide basic instructions with step-by-step photos so you have the best success when making this meal. Make sure to see the printable recipe card below for extra cooking details.
- Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and parsley.
- Brown chicken with olive oil in a large skillet until cooked through, then transfter to a plate.
- Sauté broccoli and carrots for 2-minutes then add the remaining veggies. Cook another 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in white wine and scrape the bits off the bottom of the skillet, then slowly add the half and half and parmesan cheese.
- Add cooked pasta, chicken, and fresh herbs to the skillet and toss everything together until well coated. At this time you can also add the tomatoes. Garnish with fresh lemon slices and serve.
Ang's Tips
- Don't overcook the veggies - You only need to sauté the vegetables for a few minutes before bringing everything together. This keeps them tender with a little bite instead of turning mushy.
- Add the cream slowly - Keep the heat low so it doesn't curdle. I usually pull the pan off direct heat and gently stir it in so it stays smooth and creamy.
- Cook the pasta just to al dente - This helps it hold its shape when combined with the rest of the ingredients. It will continue to cook a bit once everything is tossed together.
Variations
I discovered after having leftovers how easy this dish was to change up flavors, or add additional ingredients for a yummy twist. Here are some suggestions:
- Other vegetables- asparagus, fresh green beans, mushrooms, kale
- Green or Kalamata olives tossed in just before serving offers a salty, briny taste.
- Feta cheese crumbled over the hot pasta adds a wonderful cheesy bite.
- Balsamic glaze drizzled over individual servings gives it caprese vibes. So good!
More Pasta Dishes To Enjoy
- Cheesy Margherita Pasta
- Coleslaw Pasta Salad
- One-Pot Jambalaya Pasta
- Chicken Waldorf Pasta Salad
- One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
- Mediterranean Chicken and Pasta
Chicken Primavera
Equipment
- large, deep skillet
- large pot
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 small boneless skinless chicken breasts sliced thin
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- garlic powder to taste
- paprika to taste
- dried parsley to taste
Veggies
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup fresh broccoli florets
- 1 large carrot, peeled and julienned
- ½ cup red onion sliced thick
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 small zucchini, sliced
- ½ cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved optional
Cream sauce
- ¾ cup half and half
- ½ cup dry white wine
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- salt and pepper to taste
Additional ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked cavatappi pasta or other medium shape pasta
- ¼ cup fresh dill, parsley, and basil, roughly chopped
- fresh lemon slices
Instructions
- Start by cooking the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and parsley. Just sprinkle a little bit of each over the chicken and toss well.
- Heat a large deep skillet over medium high heat and add 2 tablespoon olive oil. Brown chicken on both sides until cooked through, about 5-8 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet turn the heat down to medium and add an additional 1 tablespoon olive oil. Toss in broccoli and carrots and cook 2 minutes, then add the remaining veggies - onions, garlic, zucchini, and peas. Sauté 3-4 minutes, being careful not to overcook them.
- Pour in white wine and use your spatula to scrap the bits off the bottom of the pan, then pull the pan off the heat. Slowly add the half and half, and parmesan cheese.
- Place the pan back on the heat and turn the heat down to low. Continue to stir for 1-2 minutes until the cheese melts. The sauce will thicken slightly.
- Toss in the cooked pasta, chicken, fresh herbs, and tomatoes if using, until all the ingredients are well coated and combined. Turn the heat off and taste for seasonings. Garnish with fresh lemon slices and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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