Description
Get ready to dive into pure comfort with this Creamy Velveeta Chicken Rotini with Mozzarella Garlic Sauce. This dish combines juicy pan-seared chicken, perfectly cooked rotini pasta, and a velvety cheese sauce made with melted Velveeta and fresh garlic. Topped with gooey mozzarella and optionally broiled for a golden finish, this meal is everything you want in a quick dinner, cozy comfort food, or an easy recipe for busy weeknights. It also ranks high among easy dinner ideas and crowd-pleasing food ideas, especially when you’re craving something rich, cheesy, and satisfying.
Ingredients
1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
12 ounces rotini pasta
8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy cream or milk
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs or parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini until al dente. Drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
2. Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear chicken for 5–6 minutes per side until cooked through. Let rest before slicing.
3. In a separate pan, melt butter and sauté garlic for 1–2 minutes. Stir in cream and add Velveeta cubes. Stir constantly until cheese is fully melted and smooth.
4. Add cooked rotini to the cheese sauce and stir to coat evenly. Use reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
5. Transfer pasta to an oven-safe dish, sprinkle mozzarella on top, and broil for 2–3 minutes until golden and bubbly (optional).
6. Slice the rested chicken and serve it over or alongside the cheesy pasta. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
Use freshly minced garlic instead of powder for a deeper, more aromatic flavor.
Broiling the mozzarella is optional but adds a delicious golden finish.
To reheat leftovers, add a splash of milk to restore the creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop + Broiler
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, velveeta chicken, cheesy rotini, quick dinner, easy recipe