5 Ingredient Chicken Feta Pasta
As someone who lacks self control around her spice cabinet, restraining this Chicken Feta Pasta to five simple ingredients felt radically unsound. Surely, an easy chicken pasta recipe that’s made in ONE pan with only FIVE things I already had in my pantry couldn’t possibly have great flavor, pleasing texture, and be a dish that my husband would request on repeat?
I should restrain myself to five ingredients more often. Not only did this Chicken Feta Pasta taste outstanding, it was ready in 30 minutes and made fantastic leftovers too!
The wizard behind this five-ingredient magic is friend and fellow blogger Phi. Her cookbook Five Ingredient Recipes: A Cookbook for Busy People is officially on shelves, and I could not be more proud of her.
Phi lives in Milwaukee and was one of the first people to welcome me to the city nearly two years ago. Since before I met her, Phi had a dream to write a cookbook, and it’s been incredibly inspiring to watch her make those dreams come true.
A few weeks ago, she hosted a book launch party in downtown Milwaukee, and it was PACKED. On the menu: nine different recipes from her book, and, folks, let me tell you: we all need to restrain ourselves to five ingredients more often. Every single one was outstanding!
When I was paging through the book to find a recipe to share with you here, what caught my eye about this Chicken Feta Pasta (aside from the fact that it looked delicious), was the little blurb Phi included above the recipe. This dish is the first meal she cooked for her husband Nick, and is still one of his all-time favorites. If Phi’s taste-tester #1 approved, I knew we would too.
And we DEFINITELY approved.
The only changes to the recipe I made were to use whole wheat pasta noodles, and sprinkle a little fresh basil I had sitting on my counter over the top. This dish is creamy, healthy, and ready-to-go in a snap. What more could I wish for?
Phi is also offering one lucky reader a chance to win a PERSONALIZED, AUTOGRAPHED copy of her cookbook. That’s right—the author/celeb will be dedicating and signing the winning copy!
**Giveaway ended. Congrats to the winner and thank you to all who entered**
5 Ingredient Chicken Feta Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless breasts, — split in half
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt — divided
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano — (14.5-ounce cans)
- 2 cups water
- 1 pound whole wheat fettuccini pasta — or substitute another long, straight pasta such as spaghetti
- 4 ounces reduced-fat feta cheese — divided
- Finely chopped fresh basil — optional
Instructions
-
In a large pot or Dutch oven with a lid, heat the olive oil over high for 1 minute, then add the chicken breast halves. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and the black pepper. Cook the chicken on one side for 8 minutes, moving it around in the pan a little to prevent sticking, but not too much, so that a nice crust will form. Lower the heat as needed if the chicken seems to be cooking too quickly. Flip, sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, then cook for 5 additional minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
-
Add the diced tomatoes and water. Stir in the pasta and cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Cover and let cook an additional 10 minutes.
-
Remove the lid, stir, then add three-quarters of the feta. Stir once more, then let cook uncovered for 5 additional minutes. Serve warm, sprinkled with the remaining feta cheese and fresh basil.
Recipe Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave with a light splash of water, chicken stock, or tomato pasta sauce to keep from drying out.
Nutrition Information
Amount per serving (1 (of 5)) — Calories: 390, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 56mg, Sodium: 531mg, Carbohydrates: 56g, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 6g, Protein: 19gDid you try this recipe? I want to see! Follow Well Plated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!
If you like this 5 Ingredient Feta Chicken Pasta, you’ll love these other quick and easy pasta recipes!
Creamy Chicken Bacon Pasta with Peas
Cheesy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta with Sausage and Spinach
Thanks Phi for offering the giveaway prize to the lucky winner! Giveaway to remain open until 10 p.m. CST on Sunday, August 8th. Open to US residents ages 18 and older. One (1) winner will be selected.
This post contains some affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.
About Erin Clarke
I’m fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food taste incredible. Wearer of plaid, travel enthusiast, and firmly convinced that sweets and veggies both deserve a place at the table. MORE ABOUT ERIN…
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My husband!
I would make this meal for my boyfriend because I know that anything pasta related is the key to his heart. ;) Thank you for the giveaway, Erin!
My mom was the Queen of simplicity in the kitchen and rarely made anything from scratch (how did my kitchen DNA go so very much in the other direction?! ;) ). We lost her suddenly in February and I would give anything to be able to fix her one last simple, delicious meal.
Thank you for sharing this one! Printing!!!
this looks gorgeous!!! I would make this for myself, my friends, my hubby, there’s really no end to who this would be perfect for :) xo
This is a great idea – the flavor comes from the tomatoes and feta. I would share the cookbook/recipe with my mom.
My sister! She just had a baby, so making her simple, healthy and satisfying meals is the ultimate present to give her!
Five ingredient, quick dishes are perfect for my boyfriend and I when we get back from a busy weekend day – sure beats going out to eat!
Feta is my FAVORITE cheese ever- and you’re so right, even for those of us (myself included) who love our spice cabinets more than anything else, feta imparts a lot of delicious flavor!
I would make this meal for my parents! I tend to go overboard on the ingredients, but my parents like simple meals that are easy to put together. My mom has been wanting to try new (and healthy!) meals that are simple like this one!
My Family
This looks delicious! I would make this for my sister, she just had a baby girl and an easy dinner she could remake would be perfect!
NOTHING like a quick, easy, DELICIOUS meal! I’d love to make this for my mom when she comes to visit/help us move in a few weeks. :)
My hit-or-miss toddler would love this. Today, anyway.
Haha! I hear ya!
My parents love simple meals like this, I would totally make this for them!
I would say my mother in-law, she cooks for herself all the time, and I would love to be able to make her something and when I gave her the recipe afterwards she would be pleased to know it only had 5 ingredients. So much more budget friendly too!
With two kids and both of us working full-time jobs, this sounds like the perfect weeknight meal for my hubby! And I love seeing recipes from local Milwaukee bloggers!
And I love hearing from fellow Milwaukee-ans too! Thanks so much for saying hi :)
My husband is my #1 recipe taster, so he would definitley be the first in line. However, this looks like a wonderful, easy meal to make when we have friends over. We live away from our families and I love to cook, so we are always inviting our friends and neighbors over to join us :)
This looks fantastic – and it’s only 5 ingredients?! I’m sold! My boyfriend and I are both in the dissertation stage of our PhD programs, so we could definitely use some easy recipes for those days when our brains are totally fried.
Definitely my husband! There’s nothing better than when he loves a new dish I make!
I would love to make a five-ingredient meal for Matt! He’s always so appreciative of what I make for us, and I know he’d love it. :)
I would like to make a simple 5-ingredient meal for my husband to show how easy a delicious meal can be!
I would love to make it for my daughter. She is my favorite person in the world.
I would make it for my Mom. She was recently widowed and we are blessed to have her around the corner from us. I love making her dinner so she can enjoy it with others.
Christine
[email protected]
I would make this yummy recipe for my husband – he usually cooks dinner because by the time I get home from work it would be too late to start a long involved recipe. It would be fun to make him dinner for a change and this recipe would be the perfect simple yet delicious meal.
Thanks for the opportunity to win the cookbook – I might be cooking more often!
My husband! He definitely pulls more than his share of the weight around the house while I’m in school so I love to make him tasty meals as a thanks. No better way than with an easy, fast meal that will leave plenty of time to hit the case books after dinner.
I would love to make this for my husband on a surprise at home date night! Looks amazing!!
I would make it for my hubby. For some reason he wants dinner every single night – ha ha!
I would definitely love to make a delicious and simple meal for my family and guests for casual get-togethers. This looks like a wonderful cookbook!
I would make these recipes for myself, actually. Hope that doesn’t sound selfish (ha) because I love to make easy and healthy meals. All of these recipes look terrific!
My husband and sister!
My husband! Love me some pasta!
The one person I’d want to make this for is Harry, my husband of 8 years. He deserves the best, and is always after me to make simpler meals.
I would love to make this dish for my son. He loves all sorts of pasta dishes. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of this cookbook.
I would make it for myself…maybe a little for my cat ;)
I would make this dish for my husband. He’ll eat most any new recipe I try.
I would love to make one of these for my husband!! He works hard around the house, helping take care of the kids, etc. and cooking a delicious meal is a nice way to tell him “thank you!”
My husband almost always makes dinner because I have to work evenings. I typically choose recipes for him to cook for the family and he brings me dinner to eat while teaching piano. He always complains when the ingredient list is too long and therefore too complicated or time-consuming. This would be perfect for our family. Thanks for the idea Erin!
I would make this for my son… pasta is his favorite food and this recipe is a good way to incorporate some healthy veggies! He’s always asking me to provide him with a “chopped” basket that he can cook a meal from.
I live alone so I would be pleased by anyone that came.
Love to make for my grown children so that they could see it only takes a few ingredients to have a healthy delicious meal
Mary
My family tonight!!!
My husband! I’m sure he would love this 5 ingredient pasta!
I would love to make this recipe for my husband and me. Then I would forwarded it to my three busy daughters, whom all have young children, to give them an easy, healthy dinner for their growing families.
Would make this for my husband and stepson. This looks so delicious and easy. Thanks for posting this receipe and the giveaway.
Would make this for my family. Looks delicious!
Erin!!! Thank you SO much for this incredible post! Thank you times a million! I am so touched at your kind words and truly appreciate everything you said! And I’m so So happy Ben liked the dish too. So much love for you!!
I’d make 5-ingredient meals for myself. lol. When I am cooking for just myself (not my partner or kids), I tend to go a little overboard with the prep…
I am going grocery shopping to make this recipe for my Husband !
I would love to make a 5 ingredient recipe fpr my boyfriend. We do a lot without a kitchen and thus would help us more
I would love to make a recipe from the beautiful new cookbook, 5 Ingredient Recipes, for my niece and her friends. They love to eat and as young people , just starting out in the world and learning to cook they would appreciate this cookbook.
I would make this recipe for my sister. The recipes you show all look like ones I make, so I know I would enjoy finding new recipes from her cookbook.
Looks delicious and sure to please my toddlers!
Love these kind of recipes. Great work on the book as well! (:
So happy to find this recipe! Would make this for my niece and her husband, they are always asking me for easy recipes! 5 month old in the house leaves little time for a nutritious meal!
I would like to make this for my sister to prove to her how delicious feta is!
My oldest son would love this! Next time he visits! He would love everything about this dish.
I would like to make a Delicious 5 ingredient one pot meal for Hubby and I to have a Romantic dinner! :)
I would love to make this simple and delicious meal for my husband!
I’d love to prepare a simple, delicious, five-ingredient meal with my wife for our kids.
I’m going to make this for my family when my kids come to visit this weekend. I love anything with Feta!
I would make this for my mom. My mom does so much for me and my siblings. She does so much for her grandchildren.
This looks great! Would love to make for my husband!
I would love some easy dinners for the fam!
My daughter can not have dairy. Do you have any recipes with a substitute for milk that is not awful? So many recipes include no gluten in the same recipe. Gluten is not a problem. Mac & Cheese, Au Gratin Potatoes, pudding, ice cream, etc. Nothing too fancy. She likes tacos, burritos, quesadillas, cheeseburgers, pizza, etc. I thought of you first, because I know you appreciate all kinds of food. Thank you.
Hi Janet! I actually have an entire dairy free section of my recipe index that you can find here: http://www.wellplated.com/category/recipes-by-diet/dairy-free/. All of these are either already dairy free or can easily be adapted to be so. I hope that helps and that you and your daughter enjoy the recipes you find!
I would love to try it when some of my friends are visiting. Our group of moms are very partial to feta cheese! Your food presentation is as always lovely!
My partner! A very hard one to please, this recipe book looks perfect for him and cant wait to try out this recipe!
I would make this for my newly pregnant sister! She just moved back to America after being in south Korea for the past two years and she and her husband have their hands full with two kids (3 1/2 and 2). So glad they are all back in the beautiful US of A! :D
I would make this for my husband, kids and my
brother and his wife. They are both incredibly mindful about eating healthy and this sound so delicious I know we’d all be hooked!
I would like to try making these for my husband.
I would make it for my daughters. They love oasta. We call them the pasta princesses. I would love to win this book! Thanks for the giveaway.
I would love to make a delicious meal for my daughter! She is expecting and she is actually enjoying all kinds of foods right now!
I love to cook simple, healthy meals for my 2 boys.
I would love to make this meal for my parents. I am living at home again for the summer and we are always pressed for time during the week to make a good meal.
My fiance!
my sister!
This sounds great! I can’t wait to make it for my husband.
What beautiful food photography, Erin! I would make this dish for my two-year-old son who love pasta.
Making this WITH my daughter so she can learn to prepare it in her new apartment at college. Her roommates will love it!
My good friend and her two-year-old son whose husband/dad just deployed. Perfect time to increase pop-ins, especially ones that include hands-off meals for them!
My son! He is a lover of food and I’m trying to teach him that healthy food can be delicious! Plus I haven’t had a chance to use the basil in my garden yet so this is perfect!
My husband. he’s the only one I cook for & this is something he’d probably love.
5 INGREDIENTS! My favorite! I would make this for my husband who is all about pasta! This recipe & the ones you posted at the bottom look amazing! Printing all of them! Thanks Erin!
My hubby! :)
I would make it for my sister, as we get a house together and try to both eat healthier together.
This would be so make for my hubby and I!
My family! I need to go get this cookbook, and share with my younger sisters!
I would make this for my husband!
The day before this post (7/31/2016) was my dad’s birthday and I remembered many good times/meals with him. This recipe would have been right up his alley. Pasta, chicken, cheese, tomatoes, fresh herbs – perfect; he would want crusty bread, too! Great memories I am glad to have of him.
So many delicious ideas! I would love all of those. I would really love to make a nice meal for my Mama.. she deserves it!
I’d like to make a simple and delicious meal for my elderly neighbor. I always make extra so she can have something good to eat.
I live alone but would love to make for my friend Christy!
I would make this yummy recipe for my mum. Thanks for the opportunity to win the cookbook
Looks delicious, i would like to share with my sister who is also so busy
My wife. (OK, the whole family too!) She would love the simple mix of pasta, feta, chicken and tomatoes. And heck yeah I’d add fresh basil right from the garden.
Great recipe, Erin!
Everything’s bettah with Feta!
My husband and sweet little girl!
Thanks for the giveaway and recipe, Erin! :)
I would love to make this for our church fellowship meal tomorrow. I may have to double the recipe, but I think it will be a BIG hit with everyone! I love all the ingredients, but I may use zucchini spirals instead of pasta.
I am so in love with your blog! I’m making the paleo zuchinni bread this weekend! Woohoo! I would love to make a beautiful meal for my new..ahem.. love interest ;) he’s a total foodie and has a birthday coming up so it’s perfect timing!
Jordan, I am blushing. Thank you so much for your kind words!
I would make this recipe for my mom and brother it’s and Easy to make and it’s perfect for the summer and it’s Diabetic friendly
I’d love to make something for my father. He’s in his 80s and had a couple of strokes this year which limits him in how much (healthy) cooking he can do for himself. I’ve run out of ideas and would welcome some new, easy recipes that I can prepare for him.
These would be great for school coming up!
Definitely my husband Luke! We are always look g for simple recipes and with a baby on the way, we need this!
I’d love to make a 5-ingredient meal for my grandsons who are 4 and almost 7
I’d like to make one for my friend Giulia.
I’d make this to share with my family… but let’s be honest, it would be so I would have delicious leftovers for lunch the next day
I would make this for my husband, myself and our sweet baby Luke who is due in October.. Love the idea of making a simple, nutritious meals with just five ingredients. Would make my life a whole lot easier in the coming months!!
Erin- I made this tonight without using the pasta. I made used a spiralizer and spiraled zucchini for the noodles. I used grilled chicken either on this or with it as a side. This brought all the fresh tomatoes and zucchini taste to it.
Sarah that sounds absolutely delicious! So much for sharing your review. I might have to try it that way myself next time :-)
This looks amazing! What I like about your recipes is they’re healthy, easy to make, and actually sound appealing ! Think I’ll make this tomorrow ?
Thank you so much, Brittany! I’m happy to hear you think so! I hope you love the recipe.
This looks amazing.
This is easy and delicious! The only change I made was cut back on the salt because I was using canned tomatoes and my feta cheese is salty too. Passed it on to my brother who will make it next week. Definitely going on my “let’s make it again” recipe list.
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this review, Susan! I’m so glad to hear the recipe was a winner!
This looks so good. Would it work with fish? I keep kosher so can’t have chicken and cheese, but I love feta, so if another non-meat/poultry protein would work in it’s place, I’d try this in a heartbeat!
Hi Lisa, with this recipe, I’d just recommending leaving the protein out entirely and serving the pasta alongside your protein of choice, like fish as you suggested. I hope you enjoy it!
Made this with leftover BBQ chicken and added red onion. This would also be nice with olives and mushrooms added.
So happy you enjoyed the recipe, Suzanne! Olives and mushrooms would be an excellent addition – let me know if you try it that way sometime! Enjoy!