Description
This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken with Cheesy Penne Pasta is the ultimate comfort food experience—rich, cheesy, and full of garlicky goodness. Tender golden-seared chicken thighs sit on a bed of penne pasta tossed in a luscious parmesan cream sauce that’s both indulgent and easy to make. Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner, a cozy date night meal, or new dinner ideas that feel restaurant-worthy without the effort, this easy recipe delivers every time. It’s the kind of dish you’ll want to keep in your rotation for good. Perfect for easy dinner inspiration, quick comfort food, or hearty food ideas that warm you up from the inside out.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter (plus extra if needed)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
12 oz penne pasta
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt (plus more for pasta water)
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
1. Pat chicken thighs dry and season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using.
2. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken thighs 5–6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
3. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
4. In the same skillet over medium heat, add more butter if needed. Sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Pour in heavy cream and let it simmer gently for 3–4 minutes.
6. Stir in parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen sauce if needed.
7. Toss cooked penne into the sauce and stir until fully coated.
8. Slice or leave chicken thighs whole and serve on top of or next to pasta.
9. Garnish with parsley and extra parmesan. Serve hot.
Notes
Use freshly grated parmesan for the smoothest, creamiest sauce.
Don’t skip the pasta water—it helps emulsify the sauce and make it cling to the pasta.
Let the chicken rest before slicing to keep it juicy and flavorful.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 155mg
Keywords: easy dinner, creamy pasta, parmesan chicken, comfort food, chicken pasta, dinner ideas, quick dinner, garlic pasta