Description
This Traeger creamy chicken pasta is packed with smoky flavor, tender grilled chicken, and a rich, cheesy sauce. The chicken is smoked to perfection on the Traeger, then tossed with a velvety garlic-Parmesan cream sauce and pasta. It’s the perfect comfort food with a smoky twist!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Smoked Chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
For the Pasta & Sauce:
- 12 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rigatoni)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup pasta water (reserved)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
-
Smoke the Chicken:
- Preheat the Traeger (or any pellet grill) to 225°F.
- Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Place the chicken directly on the grill grates and smoke for about 1 hour, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove from the grill, let rest for 5 minutes, then slice or shred.
-
Cook the Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
-
Make the Cream Sauce:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and milk, stirring to combine.
- Add the Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning.
- Stir and let simmer for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
-
Combine Everything:
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat.
- Stir in the sliced smoked chicken. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
-
Serve & Enjoy:
- Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.
- Serve warm and enjoy your creamy, smoky chicken pasta!
Notes
- For extra smoky flavor, you can reverse-sear the chicken by increasing the Traeger temperature to 450°F for the last 5 minutes.
- Add veggies! Try stirring in spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of milk or cream to maintain creaminess.