Entrée: United States – Cheesy Chicken and Mushroom Penne

Food safety reminder: Follow safe food-handling practices and use a food thermometer to verify safe internal cooking temperatures.

Serving Size: 4

Approximate Time

Prep 12 min

Cook 20 min

Total 32 min

Ingredients

1 lb (450 g) ground chicken
8 oz (225 g) button mushrooms, sliced
8 oz (225 g) cheddar cheese, shredded
2 tbsp (30 ml) unsalted butter
1 cup (240 ml) half-and-half
12 oz (340 g) penne pasta
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. **Cook the Pasta**: In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. **Prepare the Sauce**: In a large skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the sliced button mushrooms and sauté until they are golden and tender, about 5-7 minutes.

3. **Cook the Chicken**: Add the ground chicken to the skillet with the mushrooms. Cook until the chicken is browned and cooked through, breaking it up into smaller pieces with a spatula, about 6-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. **Make it Cheesy**: Stir in the half-and-half and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Gradually add the shredded cheddar cheese, stirring continuously until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.

5. **Combine and Serve**: Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat the pasta evenly with the cheesy chicken and mushroom sauce. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to heat through, then serve hot.

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