Oh, yes—Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is creamy, garlicky, and cheesy heaven! 🧄🧀🍝 Here’s a step-by-step recipe that’s simple but tastes restaurant-level.
Ingredients (serves 4)
For the chicken:
- 2 large chicken breasts (or 3–4 thighs), boneless and skinless
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil
For the pasta:
- 8 oz (225 g) pasta (fettuccine, penne, or spaghetti)
- Salt, for pasta water
For the garlic Parmesan sauce:
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain the rest. Set aside.
2. Cook the chicken
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook chicken 5–7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 75°C).
- Remove chicken, let rest 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
3. Make the garlic Parmesan sauce
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream, stir, and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Gradually whisk in Parmesan cheese until smooth.
- Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
4. Combine
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until coated.
- Fold in sliced chicken.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan.
💡 Tips for next-level flavor:
- Use freshly grated Parmesan—it melts better and has more flavor.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick.
- A squeeze of lemon juice brightens the richness.
If you want, I can also give you a one-pan version where you cook the chicken and pasta together in the sauce, cutting cleanup to almost zero while keeping it creamy.
Do you want me to do that?
