Description
Get ready for the ultimate comfort food experience! This Chicken Creamy Velveeta Bowtie Pasta with Mozzarella Garlic Sauce is rich, cheesy, and bursting with flavor — perfect for busy weeknights or cozy dinner ideas. With tender chicken, bowtie pasta, and a garlic-infused cheese sauce made with Velveeta and mozzarella, it’s the kind of easy recipe that wins over the whole table. If you’re on the hunt for easy dinner recipes, quick family meals, or hearty food ideas, this dish checks all the boxes.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried parsley
12 oz bowtie pasta
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
0.75 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon cream cheese (optional)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: chopped spinach, broccoli, fresh grated Parmesan
Instructions
1. Bring a pot of salted water to boil. Add bowtie pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
2. Pat chicken dry and season with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and parsley.
3. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 6–8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Set aside.
4. In the same skillet, reduce heat and melt butter. Sauté garlic for 30 seconds.
5. Add heavy cream and milk. Stir and warm gently.
6. Stir in Velveeta, mozzarella, and cream cheese. Stir continuously until melted and smooth.
7. Season the sauce with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
8. Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water if needed to adjust thickness.
9. Return chicken to the pan or plate pasta and top with chicken.
10. Garnish with parsley and optional Parmesan before serving hot.
Notes
Velveeta melts more smoothly than most cheeses, giving your sauce a restaurant-quality texture.
Stir the sauce constantly over low heat to avoid clumping or separating.
Make sure your chicken isn’t crowded in the pan — searing in batches gives better browning and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner / Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approx. 1½ cups
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: easy dinner, cheesy pasta, chicken pasta, comfort food