Description
Creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta elevates weeknight dinner with Italian-inspired comfort. Silky sauce, tender chicken, and al dente pasta promise a delightful meal you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Dairy Components:
- 2 cups (473 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (100 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon (14 g) butter
Pasta and Additional Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 g) pasta (fettuccine or penne)
- 1 cup (237 ml) chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup baby spinach (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare pasta according to package directions until perfectly tender, then drain and reserve.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium temperature, seasoning chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs. Cook chicken 5-7 minutes per side until golden and thoroughly cooked, then slice into thin strips.
- In the identical skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic for 1-2 minutes, releasing aromatic flavors.
- Pour chicken broth and heavy cream into the skillet, whisking together until smoothly integrated.
- Gradually incorporate Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until sauce transforms into a rich, velvety consistency.
- Introduce baby spinach to the sauce, allowing leaves to gently wilt and merge with creamy mixture.
- Reintroduce sliced chicken into the skillet, letting it warm through for 2-3 minutes and absorb surrounding flavors.
- Fold cooked pasta into the skillet, ensuring each strand becomes lavishly coated with the decadent garlic Parmesan sauce.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley across the dish for a vibrant finishing touch, then serve piping hot directly from the skillet.
Notes
- Optimize pasta’s tenderness by cooking just until al dente, ensuring it doesn’t become mushy when mixed with the creamy sauce.
- Enhance chicken’s flavor by patting it dry before seasoning, allowing better browning and creating a delicious golden crust.
- Prevent sauce separation by adding Parmesan cheese gradually and stirring constantly, maintaining a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Customize the dish for dietary needs by substituting heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk for a lighter, lactose-free version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 850
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 54g
- Saturated Fat: 30g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 180mg