Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta with Parmesan
A straightforward recipe for rich, creamy pasta featuring tender chicken coated in a strong garlic and butter sauce, finished with plenty of Parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 12 ounces pasta (fettuccine or penne recommended)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
- Season the chicken pieces generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant; do not let the garlic burn.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it reduce slightly for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the heavy cream. Let the sauce gently simmer for 3 minutes until it begins to thicken slightly.
- Reduce the heat to low. Gradually stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water, one splash at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are fully coated in the sauce.
- Stir in the chopped fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately topped with extra grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Using freshly grated Parmesan cheese melts better and provides a superior flavor compared to pre-shredded varieties.
- For extra richness, you can add 1/4 cup of cream cheese along with the heavy cream.
- If you prefer a tangier flavor, add 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice at the end with the parsley.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Unsaturated Fat: 14
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 42
- Cholesterol: 140