Chicken Parmesan Pasta in Creamy Garlic Sauce
Creamy chicken garlic Parmesan pasta made in one pan with juicy chicken, a bold garlic-Parmesan cream sauce, and tender pasta. Easy, satisfying, and perfect for weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rotini)
- 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¾ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Optional: fresh parsley, red pepper flakes, extra Parmesan
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Sear in olive oil and butter until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté garlic for 1 minute.
- Deglaze with broth, then stir in cream. Simmer gently.
- Add Parmesan and stir until smooth and thickened.
- Return chicken and add pasta. Toss to coat. Add pasta water as needed.
- Season to taste, garnish, and serve hot.
Notes
Use milk and Greek yogurt for a lighter version. Add spinach or mushrooms for extra veggies. Reheat with a splash of broth.