Description
This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta delivers restaurant-quality comfort food in just 35 minutes, combining tender chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and an irresistibly rich garlic parmesan cream sauce that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 lb twisted pasta (fusilli, penne, or rotini)
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 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 (half for chicken, half for sauce)
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional substitutions: Greek yogurt for sour cream, coconut cream + dairy-free cheese for dairy-free version, shrimp or chicken thighs as protein swaps
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Pat chicken dry, season with salt, pepper, and half the Italian seasoning. Heat 1 tbsp butter in a skillet and sear chicken 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (165°F). Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, sauté 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze with chicken broth, scraping browned bits. Stir in cream and remaining Italian seasoning, simmer 2-3 minutes.
- Lower heat and gradually whisk in Parmesan until smooth. Thin with reserved pasta water if needed.
- Return chicken and drained pasta to skillet. Toss to coat evenly, adding pasta water as needed for glossy finish.
- Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Always reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best texture and melting quality.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
Keywords: creamy chicken pasta, garlic parmesan pasta, comfort food recipe, easy weeknight dinner, quick pasta dish