Roasted Garlic Chicken Penne (Print Page)

Tender penne with roasted chicken in silky garlic cream sauce—rich, aromatic comfort food.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz)

→ Pasta

02 - 12 oz penne pasta

→ Roasted Garlic

03 - 1 large head garlic
04 - 1 tsp olive oil

→ Cream Sauce

05 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
06 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
07 - 1 2/3 cups whole milk
08 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
09 - 2 oz grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
14 - Extra grated Parmesan, to serve

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Slice the top off the head of garlic to expose the cloves. Drizzle with 1 tsp olive oil and wrap in foil.
03 - Roast garlic for 30 minutes until soft and golden.
04 - Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and roast alongside garlic for 22–25 minutes, or until juices run clear and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest, then slice thinly.
05 - Cook penne in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
06 - Squeeze roasted garlic cloves from their skins and mash to a paste.
07 - In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.
08 - Gradually whisk in milk and cream, stirring constantly until thickened, about 3–4 minutes.
09 - Stir in mashed roasted garlic, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.
10 - Add sliced chicken and cooked penne to the sauce. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed for desired consistency. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted garlic transforms into sweet, mellow cloves that melt into the sauce
  • Everything comes together in one skillet while the oven does the heavy lifting
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for an effortless next day lunch
02 -
  • Let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing to keep all those juices inside
  • If your sauce seems too thick, add more pasta water a tablespoon at a time
  • The garlic needs the full roasting time to become sweet and soft enough to mash easily
03 -
  • Roast extra garlic heads while the oven is hot and use the leftovers for bread or spreading on toast
  • If the sauce breaks, whisk in a tiny splash of cold milk and it will come back together beautifully
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