Description
A cozy, crowd-pleasing pasta that twirls tender chicken with a creamy garlic-Parmesan sauce—fast enough for a weeknight, impressive enough for guests. This easy dinner is perfect when you want comforting food ideas that feel fresh and bright. Great for quick weeknight meals, dinner ideas, and even next-day lunches. Keywords: quick dinner, easy recipe, creamy chicken pasta, weeknight pasta, California-inspired, quick meal, family-friendly, skillet pasta, comfort food, healthy-ish, quick lunch, pasta ideas.
Ingredients
12 oz spaghetti
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut bite-size
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely diced
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
to taste kosher salt
to taste freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 lemon, juiced
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; cook spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and half the Italian seasoning. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high; sear chicken 4–5 minutes, turning once, until cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
3. Reduce heat to medium; add butter to the skillet. Sauté garlic and onion 2–3 minutes until fragrant and translucent. Stir in red pepper flakes and remaining Italian seasoning.
4. Pour in chicken broth; simmer and scrape up browned bits. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan; cook until slightly thickened.
5. Return chicken and add cooked spaghetti. Toss to coat, loosening with reserved pasta water as needed. Stir in parsley and lemon juice.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning; serve hot, garnished with extra parsley.
Notes
Add cream to taste: loosen with pasta water for a silkier sauce.
Freshly grated Parmesan melts smoother than pre-shredded.
A squeeze of lemon at the end brightens and balances the richness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American (California-inspired)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 510
- Fat: 23
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 13
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 32
- Cholesterol: 110
Keywords: quick dinner, easy recipe, creamy chicken pasta, weeknight pasta, pasta ideas