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Delicious creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta in a bowl

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

A simple and luxurious one-pan meal that combines tender chicken and twisted pasta in a rich, velvety garlic parmesan sauce, ready in about 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 lb twisted pasta (fusilli), or penne/rotini
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
  • 4–5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 1.5 cups heavy cream A lower-fat alternative can be whole milk with cornstarch.
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, freshly grated preferred Pre-grated options can lead to a grainy sauce.
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning, divided
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
  • Fine salt & black pepper, to taste
  • 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Boil the pasta in a large pot of generously salted water until al dente, reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
  2. Season chicken cubes with salt, pepper, and ½ tsp Italian seasoning. Sear in a skillet until golden and cooked through.
  3. In the same skillet, add remaining butter, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes, and sauté until fragrant.
Cooking
  1. Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, then add heavy cream and the remaining Italian seasoning. Simmer until slightly thickened.
  2. Gradually stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until smooth and velvety.
  3. Return chicken to skillet, add pasta, and toss to coat. If sauce is thick, add reserved pasta water as needed.
  4. Season to taste, garnish with parsley, and serve immediately.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Consider adding vegetables like spinach or tomatoes for extra nutrition.