Description
Creamy, cheesy, and packed with rich garlic flavor, this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is the ultimate comfort food. Perfect for a quick dinner, easy pasta night, or meal prep, it combines juicy seared chicken with a luscious parmesan cream sauce and tender pasta. This easy recipe is family-friendly and ready in just 30 minutes — great for those looking for dinner ideas, quick meals, or a comforting food idea that’s both satisfying and simple to make.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
8 oz penne pasta
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Season both sides of chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 5–6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and let rest.
3. In a separate pot, boil salted water and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
4. In the same skillet used for chicken, reduce heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese and cook until smooth and thickened.
6. Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. Use reserved pasta water as needed to adjust sauce consistency.
7. Slice rested chicken and return to skillet. Toss everything together and heat through.
8. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve immediately.
Notes
Let chicken rest before slicing to keep it juicy.
Always use freshly grated Parmesan for the creamiest sauce.
Reserve pasta water to help loosen the sauce if it gets too thick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Keywords: garlic parmesan chicken pasta, creamy pasta, chicken pasta, easy dinner, weeknight meal