Description
Comforting one-pot french onion pasta marries succulent garlic butter chicken bites in this irresistible culinary symphony. Creamy parmesan sauce and caramelized onions elevate this dish, offering you a soulful journey through French-inspired comfort cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4 oz parmesan cheese, grated
Pasta and Base:
- 1 lb pasta (penne or fettuccine)
- 4 large onions, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Caramelize onions in olive oil over medium-low heat for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally until deeply golden and soft.
- Add minced garlic to caramelized onions and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Remove onion-garlic mixture and set aside, keeping the same pan for subsequent cooking.
- Season chicken bites with salt, pepper, and dried thyme, then sear in the pan at high heat for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Transfer chicken to a separate plate and maintain pan heat.
- Deglaze pan with chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from bottom of the skillet.
- Add pasta directly to the pan, coating with remaining pan liquids and browned fragments.
- Pour heavy cream into pasta, stirring to create a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Reintroduce caramelized onions and garlic to the pasta, mixing thoroughly.
- Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the pasta, stirring until cheese melts and creates a silky texture.
- Gently fold chicken bites back into the pasta mixture.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving hot.
Notes
- Choose a wide, heavy-bottomed skillet to ensure even caramelization of onions without burning.
- Use low and slow heat when caramelizing onions to develop deep, sweet flavor without scorching.
- Opt for bone-in chicken thighs for extra moisture and richer taste if preferred over chicken bites.
- Gluten-free alternative: Replace regular pasta with gluten-free pasta to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Make it vegetarian by substituting chicken with roasted mushrooms or plant-based protein cubes for similar texture.
- Keep extra chicken broth nearby to adjust pasta sauce consistency if needed during cooking.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt to reduce overall calories.
- Fresh thyme can replace dried thyme for more vibrant herb flavor and aromatic profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg