One Pot Creamy Chicken & Veggie Pasta

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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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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Cooking Method: Saute, Stovetop

Courses: Main Course, Dinner, Lunch

Difficulty: Beginner

Servings: 3

Ingredients

The Chicken

500 g chicken breast (cut into bite-sized cubes)
2 tbsp canola oil (or any neutral oil)

Aromatics

½ white onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
½ chicken bouillon cube

Spices

½ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp cumin powder
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp tomato paste
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp Trader Joe's Italian Style Soffritto Seasoning Blend

Veggies & Sauce

1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup matchstick carrots
½ cup canned corn, drained
3 tbsp H‑E‑B Just the Sauce – Spicy Calabrian (taste before adding more)
1 jar Trader Joe's Italian Tomato & Roasted Veggie Pasta Sauce
1 cup water (adjust based on pasta)

Pasta

1 package penne pasta, bronze-cut preferred (12–16 oz)
salt (to taste — add only at the end; the sauce and seasonings already contain salt)
(Salt note: the bouillon cube, Soffritto seasoning, Calabrian sauce, and pasta sauce all contain salt. Do not add extra salt until you've tasted the finished dish — you may not need any at all.)
hot sauce (optional, for extra heat)

Instructions

1
Prep the ChickenCut 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.
2
Prep the veggiesHeat 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.
3
Add spicesAdd 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.
4
Add ChickenIncrease 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.
5
Add veggies and seasoningAdd 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.
6
Add the sauceAdd 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.
7
Add penne pastaAdd 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.
8
Taste and serveOnce 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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