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Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

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A quick and comforting dish featuring tender chicken and a rich garlic Parmesan sauce on twisting pasta, perfect for busy weeknights and special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 lb twisting pasta (fusilli, penne or rotini)
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
  • 4–5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (freshly grated preferred)
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning, divided
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Fine salt & black pepper to taste
  • 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. Pat the cubed chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, and half of the Italian seasoning. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 Tbsp of butter. Sear the chicken until golden and cooked through, about 4–6 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate.
  3. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 2 Tbsp butter to the skillet and sauté the minced garlic briefly until fragrant, about 30–45 seconds.
  4. Deglaze with chicken broth, scraping any browned bits from the pan. Stir in the heavy cream, remaining Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer for 3–5 minutes until it thickens.
  5. Turn the heat to low and add the grated Parmesan in batches, stirring constantly until it melts into a smooth sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water to loosen it.
  6. Return the cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet. Toss until well coated and seasoning as needed. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

For lighter sauce, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half; freshly grated Parmesan works best. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.topchoicerecipes.com/creamy-garlic-parmesan-chicken-pasta/