Description
Creamy Chicken Pasta with Garlic & Parmesan combines juicy chicken, al dente pasta, and a velvety Parmesan-garlic sauce. A comforting, restaurant-quality meal ready in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1-inch cubes)
1 lb fusilli, penne, or rotini pasta
3 Tbsp unsalted butter
4–5 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp Italian seasoning (divided)
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Cook pasta in salted water until al dente; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain.
2. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and half the Italian seasoning. Sear in 1 Tbsp butter until golden and cooked through. Remove.
3. Melt remaining butter. Sauté garlic and red pepper flakes for 30–60 seconds.
4. Deglaze with chicken broth, then add cream and remaining seasoning. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
5. Whisk in Parmesan until smooth and creamy.
6. Return chicken to skillet, add pasta, and toss to coat.
7. Add pasta water as needed for silky sauce. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
Always use freshly grated Parmesan for smooth melting.
Add a squeeze of lemon for brightness.
Swap some cream with white wine for depth.
Include spinach, broccoli, or mushrooms for nutrition.
Substitute chicken with shrimp, salmon, or tofu for variety.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 135mg