Description
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is the ultimate comfort food—tender chicken, twisted pasta, and a luscious garlic-Parmesan cream sauce all come together in under 40 minutes. Perfect for weeknights or cozy dinners, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor with simple ingredients and easy preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large Chicken Breasts – Boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 lb Twisted Pasta (Fusilli, Penne, or Rotini)
- 3 tbsp Unsalted Butter – Divided
- 4–5 cloves Garlic – Minced
- 1½ cups Heavy Cream
- ½ cup Chicken Broth
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese – Freshly grated
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning – Divided
- ¼ tsp Red Pepper Flakes – Optional
- Salt and Black Pepper – To taste
- 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley – Chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set pasta aside.
- Pat chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, and ½ tsp Italian seasoning.
- Heat 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt remaining 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using), and sauté for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Stir in heavy cream and the remaining Italian seasoning. Simmer for 2–3 minutes to slightly thicken.
- Reduce heat to low and gradually whisk in freshly grated Parmesan cheese until smooth and creamy. Do not let the sauce boil.
- Add cooked chicken and pasta to the sauce. Toss gently to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Adjust seasoning to taste. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for a smoother sauce.
- Do not boil the sauce after adding cheese to prevent separation.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Substitute chicken thighs for extra flavor and juiciness.
- Can be made ahead through the sauce step and finished later.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta, chicken pasta, creamy pasta, garlic chicken pasta, easy pasta recipe, cheesy pasta, Italian dinner