Description
A quick and creamy chicken pasta dish that impresses with its rich flavors of garlic and Parmesan, perfect for busy weeknights.
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 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, bring salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain the rest.
- Pat the chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, and ½ tsp of Italian seasoning. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 Tbsp of butter and sear the chicken for about 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate, keeping the juices in the pan.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 2 Tbsp of butter. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes; cook for 30–60 seconds, or until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up flavorful browned bits. Stir in the heavy cream and additional ½ tsp of Italian seasoning, simmering gently for about 2–3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Lower the heat further and gradually sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese, stirring until it melts and the sauce is velvety smooth.
- Return the chicken (along with any juices) to the skillet. Toss in the drained pasta, mixing until everything is evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, gradually stir in splashes of the reserved pasta water to achieve a glossy finish.
- Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
For a lighter option, swap heavy cream for half-and-half or milk.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, chicken pasta, garlic Parmesan, quick dinner, weeknight meal