A weeknight lifesaver that comes together in one pot, 30 minutes, and almost no effort. Juicy chicken thighs, colorful veggies, and pasta all cooked in a rich, creamy Calabrian-tomato sauce built on Trader Joe’s Soffritto seasoning. Big flavor, minimal dishes.
Why You’ll Love this Pasta
This recipe is right up my alley for something you can whip up together when you’re between the 20 after-school soccer practice, swim practice, extracurricular drop-offs, and pick-ups. There’s always so much going on on weeknights, and sometimes you just want to put something together real quick. THIS is that recipe.
I would like to add a note that my recipes are mostly “to taste”. What that means is that the measurements are approximated since I mostly eyeball spices. I highly encourage you to do taste tests as you put together your dish to ensure it’s catered to your family or yourself. Feel empowered to make this YOUR way. It’s your meal and your time; let this serve as your inspiration only.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Start with oil and add the thinly sliced onion and chopped the garlic. Add the half bouillon cube, turmeric and cumin. Now add the bite-sized-cut chicken.
Add mushrooms, matchstick carrots, and canned corn.
Add onion powder, garlic powder, and the Soffritto seasoning.
Stir in garlic paste and tomato paste. Stir well until everything is evenly coated.
Add the Calabrian sauce (3 tbsp to start — taste before adding more). Follow with the full jar of Trader Joe’s pasta sauce. Stir to combine, then add 1–2 cups of water depending on how much liquid your pasta will need.
Add the penne pasta directly into the pot and stir to submerge in the sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and cook until pasta is al dente — about 12–14 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
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One Pot Creamy Chicken & Veggie Pasta
Description
A weeknight lifesaver that comes together in one pot, 30 minutes, and almost no effort. Juicy chicken thighs, colorful veggies, and pasta all cooked in a rich, creamy Calabrian-tomato sauce built on Trader Joe's Soffritto seasoning. Big flavor, minimal dishes.
Ingredients
The Chicken
Aromatics
Spices
Veggies & Sauce
Pasta
Instructions
Prep the Chicken
Cut chicken breast into evenly sized bite-sized cubes — err slightly larger as they will shrink. Thinly slice the onion, smash and chop the garlic, and have all veggies ready before you start.Prep the veggies
Heat 2 tbsp canola oil in a large deep pot over medium heat. Add sliced onions and chopped garlic, cook until just starting to turn golden. Add the half bouillon cube and stir until it melts into the onions.Add spices
Add turmeric and cumin to the onion mixture. Stir well and let bloom in the oil for about 1 minute — this builds the warm, golden base of the dish.Add Chicken
Increase heat to HIGH and add the chicken cubes. Do not add on medium or low — high heat sears the chicken and prevents it from releasing water and turning rubbery. Cook, stirring, until the chicken has changed color and has a little sear on the outside, about 5–6 minutes.Add veggies and seasoning
Add mushrooms, matchstick carrots, and canned corn. Stir in garlic paste and tomato paste, then add onion powder, garlic powder, and the Soffritto seasoning. Stir well until everything is evenly coated.Add the sauce
Add the Calabrian sauce (3 tbsp to start — taste before adding more). Follow with the full jar of Trader Joe's pasta sauce. Stir to combine, then add 1–2 cups of water depending on how much liquid your pasta will need.Add penne pasta
Add the penne pasta directly into the pot and stir to submerge in the sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and cook until pasta is al dente — about 12–14 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.Taste and serve
Once pasta is cooked through, taste and adjust: more Calabrian sauce for creaminess, hot sauce for heat, and only add salt if genuinely needed. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 3
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 930.33kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 16.92g27%
- Saturated Fat 2.24g12%
- Cholesterol 106.75mg36%
- Sodium 834.91mg35%
- Potassium 1380.2mg40%
- Total Carbohydrate 133.53g45%
- Dietary Fiber 8.74g35%
- Sugars 11.61g
- Protein 58.55g118%
- Vitamin A 7286.32 IU
- Vitamin C 9.27 mg
- Calcium 134.8 mg
- Iron 4.84 mg
- Vitamin D 0.23 mcg
- Vitamin E 3.14 mg
- Vitamin K 33.71 mcg
- Thiamin 0.34 mg
- Riboflavin 0.45 mg
- Niacin 22.04 mg
- Vitamin B6 1.71 mg
- Folate 68.56 mcg
- Vitamin B12 0.35 mcg
- Pantothenic Acid 3.73 mg
- Phosphorus 721.32 mg
- Magnesium 152.62 mg
- Zinc 3.76 mg
- Selenium 152.96 mcg
- Copper 0.69 mg
- Manganese 1.83 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
Hafsa's Tips
- Always sear chicken on HIGH heat in one pot pasta. Medium or low causes it to steam and turn rubbery. High heat = color and flavor.
- Hold the salt until the very end — between the bouillon, Soffritto, Calabrian sauce, and pasta sauce, the dish is likely already well seasoned.
- The HEB Spicy Calabrian sauce is milder than the name suggests. Start with 3 tbsp, taste, then decide. Add hot sauce at the end if you want real heat.
- Bronze-cut pasta (like Central Market's penne) has a rougher surface that holds sauce better — worth grabbing if you can find it.
- Start with 1 cup of water and check halfway through cooking. Add a splash more if the sauce looks too thick and pasta is still firm.
- Matchstick carrots and canned corn are shortcut moves — totally intentional. Pre-cut veggies make this genuinely achievable on a weeknight.
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