🍝🧄 Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta with Creamy Parmesan Sauce
This Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta with Parmesan Sauce is a rich and comforting dinner made with tender chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, roasted garlic flavor, and a silky Parmesan cream sauce. It’s an easy restaurant-style meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or special dinners.
Recipe Overview
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: About 40 minutes
- Servings: 6
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Pasta
- 12 ounces fettuccine, penne, or rigatoni
- Salt for pasta water
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Cracked black pepper
Instructions
1. Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook pasta until al dente.
- Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Cook the Chicken
- Season chicken with:
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- Smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet.
- Cook chicken for 5–7 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- Remove and set aside.
3. Make the Garlic Parmesan Sauce
- Melt butter in the same skillet.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and scrape up the flavorful bits.
- Add heavy cream and simmer for 3–5 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Season with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
4. Combine Everything
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce.
- Toss until coated.
- Return chicken to the skillet.
- Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with:
🥖 Garlic bread
🥗 Caesar salad
🥦 Roasted broccoli
🍅 Tomato basil salad
🍷 A glass of white wine
Tips for the Best Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
✅ Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce.
✅ Don’t boil the cream sauce too aggressively—it can separate.
✅ Slice chicken evenly so it cooks at the same rate.
✅ Add pasta water for a silky, restaurant-quality sauce.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 2 months (cream sauces may slightly change texture).
- Reheat: Warm gently with a splash of milk or broth.
Approximate Nutrition (Per Serving)
- Calories: 680
- Protein: 43 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fat: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
Delicious Variations 🍝
🥓 Garlic Bacon Chicken Pasta: Add crispy turkey bacon pieces.
🍄 Creamy Mushroom Chicken Pasta: Add sautéed mushrooms.
🌶️ Spicy Garlic Chicken Pasta: Add extra chili flakes.
🥬 Tuscan Style: Add spinach and sun-dried tomatoes.
This pasta is creamy, garlicky, cheesy, and packed with tender chicken—a comforting Parmesan masterpiece that the whole family will love. 🧄🧀✨