Description
A comforting dish featuring tender chicken, rich cream, and savory Parmesan paired with perfectly cooked pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 lb (450 g) twisted pasta (like fusilli) or penne/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 is 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
- In a large pot of salted water, bring to a rolling boil. Cook your pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Pat the chicken dry and season it generously with salt, pepper, and half of the Italian seasoning. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the chicken and sear for about 3–4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and keep the juices.
- Lower the heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the browned bits from the skillet. Stir in the heavy cream and the remaining Italian seasoning. Let it simmer gently for 2–3 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Reduce the heat to low. Gradually sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until fully melted and the sauce becomes smooth and velvety.
- Return the chicken (along with any juices) to the skillet. Add the drained pasta, tossing everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add splashes of reserved pasta water until glossy and clinging to the pasta.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
For added flavor, consider using different cheeses or adding sautéed vegetables. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: pasta, chicken, creamy, garlic, Parmesan, comfort food