Description
A quick and creamy pasta dish combining buttery, garlicky goodness with tender chicken, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces pasta of your choice (penne or fettuccine)
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup heavy cream (or coconut milk for a lighter option)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, drain the pasta, and set it aside.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 6-8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Sauté the minced garlic and diced onion until translucent (3-4 minutes).
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stir to combine, and add Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes until thickened; use reserved pasta water to adjust consitency as needed.
- Return the cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, toss well, and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Sprinkle with grated Parmesan, allowing it to melt, and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve warm.
Notes
Freshly grated Parmesan significantly improves flavor. Reserve pasta water for adjusting sauce consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: pasta, chicken, creamy, quick dinner, weeknight meal, comfort food