Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a rich and comforting dish featuring tender chicken pieces cooked in a velvety garlic cream sauce and tossed with perfectly cooked twisted pasta. This recipe combines the bold flavors of fresh garlic, creamy heavy cream, and sharp Parmesan cheese to create a luscious sauce that clings beautifully to every pasta twist, making it a perfect weeknight dinner or special occasion meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing, Simmering, Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Low Salt
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
Pasta
- 1 lb twisted pasta (fusilli) or penne/rotini
Sauce
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 4–5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the twisted pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter. Add the diced chicken breasts and cook until golden and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the garlic: In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Make the sauce: Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for 2 minutes. Then, add the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Add the cheese: Gradually whisk in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Continue to simmer the sauce until it thickens slightly, about 3-4 minutes.
- Combine chicken and pasta: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and stir to coat with the sauce. Toss in the drained pasta and mix well to ensure every piece is covered with the creamy garlic Parmesan sauce.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve immediately. Optionally garnish with chopped parsley or extra Parmesan cheese for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best melting and flavor. Pre-grated cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can affect sauce texture.
- Adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding more chicken broth if it gets too thick, or let it simmer longer if too thin.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, but the sauce will be less rich.
- You can swap chicken broth for vegetable broth to make the dish pescatarian-friendly if substituting the chicken with mushrooms or plant-based protein.
- This dish reheats well but may thicken; add a splash of cream or broth when reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg
Keywords: Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta, garlic chicken pasta recipe, creamy pasta with chicken, Parmesan chicken pasta, easy weeknight pasta
