Description
A cozy and comforting pasta dish featuring tender chicken and a silky Parmesan sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 lb linguine pasta
- 4 tbsp butter, divided (2 tbsp for cooking, 2 tbsp for finishing)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1–1 1/2 tbsp)
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (or seasoning mix of your choice)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup chicken broth (low sodium if preferred)
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Pat the chicken dry and season with Cajun seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Heat 2 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium heat, sauté garlic for 30-45 seconds, then add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through.
- Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, allowing it to simmer and reduce for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan, adding reserved pasta water if necessary to reach desired consistency.
- Add the remaining butter to the sauce, taste, and adjust seasoning.
- Toss the cooked linguine with the chicken and sauce until well coated. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and parsley.
Notes
Add red pepper flakes for heat or a squeeze of lemon for brightness. For a richer dish, pair with creamy mashed potatoes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: pasta, chicken, garlic butter, weeknight dinner, comfort food