Description
Craving the ultimate cheesy comfort food? This Creamy Velveeta Chicken Rotini Pasta with Mozzarella Garlic Cheese Sauce is your go-to answer. Loaded with tender, spiced chicken cubes, creamy rotini pasta, and a two-cheese garlic sauce that’s rich, smooth, and deeply satisfying—this is a dinner idea that checks all the boxes. It’s quick enough for busy weeknights, indulgent enough for guests, and versatile enough for every cheese lover out there. Perfect for anyone searching for quick dinners, easy recipes, cheesy pasta dishes, or comfort food ideas that deliver every single time.
Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into cubes
10 ounces rotini pasta
8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup milk or heavy cream
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
½ teaspoon dried basil or Italian herbs (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Pat the chicken dry and season it with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
2. Heat a skillet with butter or oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken cubes and sear until golden and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
3. In a large pot, boil salted water and cook rotini pasta until al dente, about 8–10 minutes. Drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
4. In the same skillet used for the chicken, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
5. Lower the heat and add milk or cream. Stir in the cubed Velveeta and stir continuously until fully melted and smooth.
6. Add mozzarella cheese and stir until melted into the sauce. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
7. Add the drained rotini pasta to the sauce and toss gently to coat every piece.
8. Return the chicken to the skillet or plate it over the pasta. Sprinkle dried basil or Italian herbs on top before serving.
Notes
Use freshly grated mozzarella for a smoother melt and better flavor.
Avoid high heat when melting cheese to prevent separation or a gritty texture.
Always reserve pasta water—it’s liquid gold for fixing thick sauces!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 675
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, cheesy chicken pasta, Velveeta pasta, quick dinner, garlic cheese sauce