Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this creamy garlic Parmesan chicken pasta. Tender chicken, twisted pasta, and a velvety sauce make for a dish that’s both comforting and elegant. Perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 large Chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 lb Twisted pasta (fusilli) (450g) or penne, rotini
- 3 tbsp Unsalted butter, divided
- 4–5 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1½ cups Heavy cream, for creamy sauce
- ½ cup Chicken broth, for depth of flavor
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning, divided
- ¼ tsp Red pepper flakes, optional
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain, and set pasta aside.
- Prepare & Cook Chicken: Pat chicken dry; season with salt, pepper, and ½ tsp Italian seasoning. Heat 1 tbsp butter in skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Make Garlic Parmesan Sauce: In the same skillet, melt remaining butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; sauté 30–60 seconds until fragrant. Deglaze with chicken broth, scraping browned bits from the pan. Stir in heavy cream and remaining Italian seasoning; simmer 2–3 minutes. Reduce heat to low; gradually whisk in Parmesan until smooth. Avoid boiling after adding cheese.
- Combine & Serve: Return chicken and juices to skillet; add pasta. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed for consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning; garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For richer flavor, substitute chicken thighs for breasts.
- Always grate Parmesan fresh to prevent a grainy sauce.
- If sauce thickens too much, loosen with pasta water.
- Can be made ahead through step 3, then reheated and combined before serving.
- Pair with a crisp side salad or garlic bread for a full meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 640 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 21g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
