Description
An indulgently creamy garlic Parmesan chicken pasta featuring tender chicken, twirly fusilli, and a velvety Parmesan-cream sauce—perfect for quick yet elegant weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 lb (about 450 g) twisted pasta (like fusilli) – or your pasta of choice
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (divided)
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain, and set aside.
- Pat chicken dry; season with salt, pepper, and ½ tsp Italian seasoning.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 tbsp butter. Sear chicken in a single layer for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt remaining 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Add garlic (and red pepper flakes if using), sautéing for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Stir in heavy cream and the remaining Italian seasoning; bring to a gentle simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low. Gradually whisk in Parmesan until smooth, avoiding boiling after adding cheese.
- Return chicken (and its juices) to the skillet. Add pasta.
- Toss gently to coat in sauce. If too thick, stir in reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
- Swap chicken thighs for breasts for richer flavor.
- Try different pasta shapes like penne, rotini, bow-tie, or fettuccine.
- Add vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of milk, cream, or broth to maintain sauce texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
