Description
A creamy, garlicky chicken pasta dish that comes together in under 30 minutes, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces pasta (penne, fettuccine, or your favorite)
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup heavy cream (or coconut milk for dairy-free)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of butter. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and sear in batches until golden and cooked through, about 4–6 minutes per batch. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Sauté the diced onion until translucent, about 3–4 minutes, then stir in minced garlic and cook 30–45 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Add Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it thicken for 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss in the drained pasta. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a splash at a time until it reaches the desired consistency. Stir in the grated Parmesan until melted and glossy.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
For a lighter version, replace heavy cream with half-and-half or full-fat coconut milk. For a spicy kick, add ranch dressing and hot sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: chicken pasta, creamy pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meal, cowboy butter