Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta (Printable)
Tender chicken and pasta tossed in a rich garlic cream and Parmesan sauce—comforting weeknight meal in 35 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ Pasta
02 - 12 ounces fettuccine or linguine
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
→ Dairy
06 - 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
07 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
→ Pantry
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
10 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (optional)
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook fettuccine or linguine until al dente, following package instructions. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
02 - Butterfly the chicken breasts and season both sides with salt, black pepper, and dried Italian herbs, if desired.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear until golden brown and fully cooked, approximately 5–6 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate and cover loosely to rest.
04 - In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt butter. Sauté chopped onion for 2–3 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Pour chicken broth into the skillet, scraping up any browned bits. Add heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Adjust taste with salt and pepper as needed.
06 - Slice the cooked chicken breasts thinly. Return chicken and pasta to the skillet, tossing thoroughly to coat with the sauce. Add reserved pasta water gradually to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
07 - Stir in chopped parsley and serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- This sauce hugs every strand of pasta like it's keeping a secret just for you.
- Leftovers heat up beautifully: the flavors deepen overnight, making tomorrow's lunch almost better than dinner.
02 -
- If you rush and dump the cheese into boiling cream, clumps will haunt your sauce forever.
- Stirring in reserved pasta water just a little at a time transforms the sauce from heavy to luscious.
03 -
- Browning the chicken well adds an extra layer of flavor to every bite.
- Freshly grate Parmesan just before using – pre-grated cheese never melts the same way.