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Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Close-up of creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta with fettuccine, topped with chicken chunks, grated cheese, and parsley.
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Make this easy and flavorful creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta on the stovetop. This recipe delivers rich, comforting flavors perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 12 ounces fettuccine or penne pasta
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
  5. Stir in the heavy cream. Bring the sauce back to a gentle simmer.
  6. Reduce the heat to low. Gradually stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Taste the sauce and add more salt or pepper if needed.
  7. While the sauce simmers, cook your pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
  8. Add the cooked chicken back into the skillet with the sauce.
  9. Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated in the creamy garlic parmesan sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
  10. Stir in the fresh parsley. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese on top.

Notes

  • Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best melting quality and flavor in your garlic parmesan sauce. Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that prevent a smooth sauce.
  • If you prefer a tangier flavor, you can substitute 1/4 cup of the heavy cream with sour cream, added at the very end with the cheese.
  • This recipe works well with dried herbs like Italian seasoning if fresh parsley is not available.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbycarla.com/garlic-parmesan-chicken-pasta-recipe/