Description
A comforting and easy creamy garlic Parmesan chicken pasta that’s perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 lb twisted pasta (fusilli, penne, or rotini)
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 4–5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning, divided
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fine salt & black pepper to taste
- 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it generously. Cook pasta according to package directions until just al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Season the chicken cubes with salt, pepper, and ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning. In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat, add chicken, and sear until golden and cooked through. Remove from skillet and tent with foil.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium-low and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 30–60 seconds.
- Deglaze the pan with chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits. Stir in the remaining Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and heavy cream. Let the mixture simmer for 2–3 minutes to thicken.
- Gradually stir in the grated Parmesan until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add back the chicken and pasta, tossing to coat in the sauce. If too thick, add reserved pasta water until desired consistency is achieved. Stir in any optional add-ins if using.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and additional black pepper if desired.
Notes
Keep ingredients prepped and nearby; the recipe moves quickly once the sauce starts. If the sauce separates, whisk in a little cold cream or pasta water gradually to bring it back together.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, garlic parmesan chicken, weeknight dinner