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Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta: Easy One-Pan Dinner

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A rich and creamy one-pan pasta dish with tender chicken, garlic, and parmesan cheese, perfect for busy weeknights. This recipe came from a happy accident and has become a family favorite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound total), diced into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1½ cups heavy cream
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano)
  • 8 ounces pasta (fettuccine, penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients first: dice the chicken, mince the garlic, grate the Parmesan, and measure the cream and broth.
  2. Season the diced chicken with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Toss to coat evenly.
  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining, then drain and set aside (do not rinse).
  4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until golden brown on the bottom. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes until cooked through. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
  5. Reduce heat to medium and add butter to the same pan. Scrape up the browned bits from the bottom. Once the butter is foaming, add the minced garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly.
  6. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any remaining browned bits. Let reduce slightly for about 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the heavy cream while stirring. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until it starts to thicken slightly.
  7. Reduce heat to low. Gradually sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until melted and smooth (about 1-2 minutes). If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
  8. Add the cooked chicken and drained pasta back to the pan. Toss gently with tongs or a wooden spoon until everything is coated. Add more pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
  10. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

For best results, use freshly grated Parmesan and avoid pre-shredded cheese. Keep heat low when adding cream to prevent curdling. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. This dish is best served fresh.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta, one-pan dinner, easy weeknight meal, chicken pasta recipe, garlic parmesan sauce

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