Description
A comforting bowl of pasta enveloped in a creamy, cheesy sauce, featuring juicy chicken and perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 lb (450 g) 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 (freshly grated preferred)
- 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
- Boil the pasta: Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the pasta until it’s al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the rest.
- Season & Sear Chicken: Pat the chicken dry, then season with salt, pepper, and ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Sear the chicken for 3–4 minutes on each side until it’s golden and cooked through. Transfer it to a plate but keep the juices in the skillet.
- Build Garlic Cream Base: Lower the heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Stir in the minced garlic and optional red pepper flakes, cooking for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze & Simmer: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Stir in the heavy cream and the remaining ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Allow it to simmer gently for about 2–3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Melt Parmesan: Reduce the heat to low, and gradually sprinkle in the grated Parmesan, stirring until fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Combine: Return the seared chicken (along with any juices) to the skillet, then add the drained pasta. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, incorporate splashes of the reserved pasta water until you achieve the desired consistency.
- Finish & Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best results. This dish can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: chicken pasta, creamy pasta, garlic Parmesan, Italian recipe