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Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

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A quick and comforting 30-minute dinner featuring tender chicken, creamy garlic parmesan sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta. This easy recipe is perfect for weeknights and crowd-pleasing meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 8 ounces pasta (fettuccine, linguine, or penne)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or mix of dried basil, oregano, and thyme)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • Red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain the pasta, reserving ½ cup of pasta water, then set aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add chicken to the pan in a single layer and cook for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add another tablespoon of olive oil or butter if needed, then add minced garlic. Sauté for 30-45 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
  5. Stir in grated parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add Italian seasoning and adjust salt and pepper to taste. If sauce is too thick, stir in reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to loosen.
  6. Return cooked chicken to skillet, then add drained pasta. Toss gently to coat pasta and chicken evenly with sauce.
  7. Remove from heat and sprinkle with chopped parsley and red pepper flakes if using. Let sit for a minute to meld flavors.
  8. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Do not overcook the chicken to keep it juicy. Sauté garlic just until fragrant to avoid bitterness. Use freshly grated parmesan for best melting and flavor. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency without diluting flavor. Simmer sauce gently to prevent curdling. Multitask by cooking pasta and chicken simultaneously to save time.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta, easy chicken pasta recipe, quick dinner, weeknight meal, creamy pasta, garlic chicken pasta

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