Description
This Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a creamy, savory, and quick meal perfect for busy weeknights or casual dinners. Tender chicken breasts combined with a rich garlic and parmesan sauce, tossed with your choice of pasta, creates a comforting and elegant dish the whole family will love. Ready in under 30 minutes, it offers balanced nutrition with lean protein and carbs, and can be easily customized to fit various dietary preferences.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Pasta
- 8 ounces fettuccine or penne pasta
- Salted water, for boiling
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Finishing
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken for 6-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside to rest, then slice into strips.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of pasta water for later use.
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, careful not to burn. Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Let the mixture simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Combine Everything: Lower heat to low and stir in grated parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add cooked pasta and sliced chicken back to the skillet. Toss gently to coat everything evenly. If sauce is too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
- Finish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the top and toss once more. Serve immediately while warm and creamy.
Notes
- Use Fresh Garlic: For the best flavor, always use freshly minced garlic over pre-minced.
- Don’t Overcook Chicken: Cook chicken until just done to maintain juiciness.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Use the starchy pasta water to loosen the sauce without watering it down.
- Grate Parmesan Yourself: Avoid pre-grated cheese for better melting quality.
- Simmer Gently: Keep sauce on low heat to prevent cream curdling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg