Your Next Lazy Girl Dinner…20-Minute 5 Ingredient Pasta
Your Next Lazy Girl Dinner…20-Minute 5 Ingredient Pasta 🍝✨ is a easy Italian-American recipe that serves 2. 610 calories per serving. Recipe by Savvy Little Haley on YouTube.
Prep: 5 min | Cook: 12 min | Total: 22 min
Cost: $5.75 total, $2.87 per serving
Ingredients
- 8 oz Dry Pasta (any shape you like, such as penne or fusilli)
- 12.5 oz Canned Chicken Breast (drained; can be shredded with a fork)
- 24 oz Jarred Pasta Sauce (any marinara or tomato‑based sauce)
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1 tsp Steak Seasoning
- 4 cups Water (room‑temperature, filtered)
- to taste Salt (optional, if you like extra seasoning)
Instructions
Boil Water
Fill a large pot with 4 cups of room‑temperature filtered water and place it over high heat.
Time: PT2M
Temperature: high heat
Add Pasta
When the water reaches a rolling boil and you see small bubbles, add the dry pasta, give it a quick stir, and set an 11‑minute timer (or follow the package directions).
Time: PT1M
Temperature: high heat
Prepare Canned Chicken
While the pasta cooks, open the canned chicken, drain the liquid, and shred the chicken with a fork into bite‑size pieces.
Time: PT1M
Add Chicken and Seasonings
Add the shredded chicken directly into the pot with the boiling pasta, then sprinkle in the Italian seasoning, steak seasoning, and a pinch of salt if desired.
Time: PT1M
Temperature: high heat
Add Pasta Sauce
Pour the entire jar of pasta sauce over the chicken and pasta, stir gently, and let everything simmer together until the timer goes off and the noodles are al dente.
Time: PT12M
Temperature: medium‑low heat
Drain Pasta
When the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat. Place a colander in the sink, wear kitchen mitts, and carefully pour the pot contents into the colander to drain the excess liquid.
Time: PT1M
Plate and Serve
Transfer the drained pasta to plates or a serving bowl, drizzle the chicken‑tomato sauce over the top, and enjoy immediately.
Time: PT1M
Cleanup Hack (Optional)
Rinse the empty sauce jar, fill it with hot, soapy water, and let it soak for 10 minutes. The jar will come clean and can be reused for storage.
Time: PT10M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 610
- Protein
- 32 g
- Carbohydrates
- 78 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fiber
- 5 g
Dietary info: Contains meat, Contains gluten, Can be made gluten‑free with gluten‑free pasta
Allergens: Wheat (gluten), Chicken
Ingredient Substitutions
- Instead of Dry Pasta: gluten‑free pasta, zucchini noodles
- Instead of Canned Chicken Breast: rotisserie chicken, shredded, cooked fresh chicken breast, diced
- Instead of Jarred Pasta Sauce: homemade tomato sauce, store‑bought alfredo sauce for a different flavor
- Instead of Italian Seasoning: dried oregano and basil blend
- Instead of Steak Seasoning: additional pinch of salt and pepper
- Instead of Salt: sea salt, kosher salt
Equipment Needed
- Large Pot
- Colander or Strainer
- Wooden Spoon
- Timer
- Kitchen Mitts
Critical Steps — Do Not Skip
- Bring water to a rolling boil before adding pasta.
- Stir pasta immediately to prevent sticking.
- Add canned chicken while pasta cooks to save time.
- Simmer sauce until pasta is al dente and liquid has reduced.
- Use kitchen mitts when draining hot water.
Chef Tips from the Video
- Use a rotisserie chicken as a shortcut – shred it and add it at the same time as the canned chicken.
- For extra flavor, add a handful of fresh spinach or frozen peas during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
- Reuse the empty sauce jar for storing leftovers; it’s an easy, eco‑friendly hack.
Troubleshooting
Pasta sticks to the bottom of the pot.
Stir immediately after adding pasta and every few minutes thereafter; add a splash of oil if needed.
Sauce is too watery.
Let the mixture simmer uncovered for an extra 2‑3 minutes to allow excess liquid to evaporate.
Chicken pieces are dry.
Do not over‑cook the chicken; remove from heat as soon as the sauce thickens and the chicken is lightly browned.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Freeze in a freezer‑safe container for up to 2 months; reheat gently on the stove.
Room temperature: Do not store at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Make-Ahead Tips
- Cook extra pasta and store it in the fridge; reheat with a splash of water.
- The sauce can be made ahead and kept refrigerated; add chicken just before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cultural significance and history of Lazy Girl Chicken Pasta in American home cooking?
Lazy Girl Chicken Pasta reflects the American tradition of quick, budget‑friendly meals that combine pantry staples like canned chicken and jarred sauce. It embodies the post‑World War II convenience culture where canned proteins and ready‑made sauces became household essentials.
What are the traditional regional variations of chicken pasta in Italian‑American cuisine?
In Italian‑American households, chicken pasta often appears as chicken‑marinara or chicken‑alfredo. Some regions add roasted red peppers, olives, or fresh herbs like basil. The lazy‑girl version simplifies these by using canned chicken and a store‑bought sauce.
How is Lazy Girl Chicken Pasta traditionally served in the United States?
It is typically served hot on a plate or shallow bowl, sometimes topped with grated Parmesan and a side of garlic bread. The dish is meant to be a quick, comforting dinner for busy weeknights.
What occasions or celebrations is Lazy Girl Chicken Pasta associated with in American culture?
While not a formal celebration dish, it is a go‑to for late‑night cravings, college dorm meals, and impromptu family dinners when time and energy are limited.
What makes Lazy Girl Chicken Pasta special or unique in Italian‑American cuisine?
Its uniqueness lies in the ultra‑minimalist approach: using canned chicken straight from the can and cooking everything in one pot, which reduces cleanup and cooking time without sacrificing flavor.
What are the most common mistakes to avoid when making Lazy Girl Chicken Pasta?
Common errors include not stirring the pasta, which leads to sticking; overcooking the chicken, making it dry; and draining the sauce too early, resulting in a watery final dish.
Why does this Lazy Girl Chicken Pasta recipe use canned chicken instead of fresh chicken breast?
Canned chicken is pre‑cooked and shreds easily, saving both cooking time and cleanup. It also fits the lazy‑girl ethos of using pantry items that require minimal preparation.
Can I make Lazy Girl Chicken Pasta ahead of time and how should I store it?
Yes. Store the cooked pasta and sauce together in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much.
What texture and appearance should I look for when the Lazy Girl Chicken Pasta is done?
The pasta should be al dente—soft but still firm to the bite. The chicken pieces will be lightly golden on the edges, and the sauce should cling to the noodles without excess liquid.
What does the YouTube channel Savvy Little Haley specialize in?
The YouTube channel Savvy Little Haley focuses on quick, budget‑friendly meals, kitchen hacks, and sustainable cooking tips aimed at busy adults who want tasty food with minimal effort.
How does the YouTube channel Savvy Little Haley's approach to Italian‑American cooking differ from other cooking channels?
Savvy Little Haley emphasizes ultra‑simple, one‑pot recipes and reusing containers for sustainability, whereas many other channels may showcase more elaborate techniques or multiple‑dish preparations.
Last updated: September 1, 2026
