Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
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This Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a delicious and savory dish that combines tender chicken, flavorful garlic, creamy Parmesan cheese, and pasta. It’s the perfect comfort food that’s easy to make and sure to please your taste buds. It’s a great weeknight dinner for the entire family!

What is Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta?
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a delightful dish that combines cooked chicken slices, pasta (such as fettuccine), and a rich sauce made from cream, minced garlic, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Why You’ll Like This Recipe
What’s the easiest dish you usually whip up on busy weeknights when you don’t know what to cook for dinner? Pasta dish, of course, 😊! It’s great for grownups and always a hit with kids (at least my kiddos 😏). And when the chicken is coated in a deliciously creamy cheese sauce and served over pasta, there is so much flavor that screams comfort food.
Did you know that food can uniquely evoke emotions, create memories, and transport us to a realm of comfort and pleasure? I’m sure you can instantly remember one dish from your childhood dinner table that brings back these memories. Mine is stuffed peppers. Oh, so yum!
At its core, Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta combines simple ingredients, each contributing to a complex and delightful whole. The journey begins with tender chicken breasts, thoughtfully seasoned and pan-seared to golden perfection. As the chicken rests, attention turns to the heart of the dish—the creamy garlic Parmesan sauce.
Mincing garlic and sautéing it in olive oil releases its aromatic essence, creating a fragrant foundation for the sauce. The addition of heavy cream transforms the dish from ordinary to extraordinary! Grated Parmesan cheese is the star, infusing the sauce with its distinct nutty depth and richness. Oh, My Goodness!

Ingredients You’ll Need Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts – you should cut them into bite-sized pieces. You can use chicken thighs instead for a richer flavor and juicier texture. Dark meat tends to be more forgiving during cooking, making it less likely to dry out 😏.
- Dried pasta – such as fettuccine, linguine, or penne pasta.
- Garlic – minced. You can also use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic, but remember that garlic powder has a milder flavor and provides a more subtle garlic taste without pungency.
- Parmesan cheese – grated.
- Heavy cream – you can use whole milk as a lighter alternative to create a less rich but still creamy sauce. To thicken the sauce, you’ll need to add a bit of flour as a thickening agent. So you’ll make bechamel sauce (find the steps here) instead of Alfredo sauce 😉.
- Olive oil – you can also use vegetable oils like canola, sunflower, or safflower oil; they are neutral in flavor and can be used as a 1:1 substitute for olive oil in most recipes. Or avocado oil has a mild flavor and a high smoke point, making it suitable for cooking chicken pieces at higher temperatures.
- Salt and black pepper – to taste.
- Optional: red pepper flakes, fresh parsley.

Step-by-step Cooking Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil on a stove top. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet, frying pan, or cast-iron skillet. I used a cast-iron skillet in this recipe. Cook the small pieces of chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes per side—season with salt and pepper. You can also add some Italian seasoning for more flavor. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
- Make the sauce: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and minced garlic in the same skillet. Cook the garlic for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add the cream and Parmesan: Lower the heat to medium and pour the heavy cream into the skillet with the garlic. Stir the cream and garlic together until well combined. Gradually sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese while stirring to create a creamy sauce. Cook for a few minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine the al dente pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss the pasta in the creamy sauce until it is well coated.
- Add the chicken: Add cooked chicken pieces to the pasta and sauce mixture. Toss everything together to combine.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley or basil if desired. Serve the Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta hot, and enjoy!
Note: You can also cook the juicy chicken breast in an air fryer – follow your air fryer cooking instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The sauce in this dish is what brings all the flavors together. It’s created by sautéing minced garlic in oil until fragrant, then adding heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. The result is a velvety, indulgent sauce rich in texture and bursting with the distinct flavors of garlic and Parmesan.
Absolutely! While fettuccine is popular, you can use other pasta varieties like linguine, penne, or even bowtie pasta. The key is to choose a pasta that can hold the creamy sauce well and complements the other ingredients.
This dish pairs well with a variety of sides. Consider serving it with garlic bread for some added crunch and garlic flavor, a fresh green salad to balance out the richness, or steamed vegetables to add a touch of freshness and color to the plate.
Absolutely! Garlic Parmesan chicken pasta is versatile and can be customized to suit your preferences. A great addition can include fresh spinach, cherry tomatoes, green beans, or broccoli for extra nutrients and color. Additionally, herbs like basil or parsley can be used for a burst of freshness and flavor.
In conclusion, this Creamy Parmesan Garlic Pasta with Juicy Chicken is more than just a dish; it orchestrates culinary elements to create a symphony of flavors and comfort. For those who enjoy wine, consider pairing it with a white wine like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. The crispness of white wine can complement the creamy sauce and enhance the dining experience. What else could you be asking for delicious weeknight dinners 👌😉?

If you like this recipe, here are some other great pasta recipes to try:
- Easy Turkey Bolognese with Jar Sauce (Turkey Ragu Pasta)
- Easy Baked Feta Pasta with Smoked Salmon (Tik Tok Pasta)
- Creamy Spinach Pasta (The Benefits of Meatless Meals)
- Salmon Asparagus Pasta
- Easy Chicken with Spinach in Creamy White Sauce (Chicken Spinach in Bechamel)

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Equipment
- 1 Cast-iron skillet optional
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta fettuccine, linguine, or penne
- 10 oz chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 tbsp olive oil divided
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup parmesan grated
- salt and black pepper to taste
- fresh parsley or basil for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil on a stove top. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet, frying pan, or cast-iron skillet. I used a cast-iron skillet in this recipe. Cook the small pieces of chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes per side—season with salt and pepper. You can also add some Italian seasoning for more flavor. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
- Make the sauce: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and minced garlic in the same skillet. Cook the garlic for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add the cream and Parmesan: Lower the heat to medium and pour the heavy cream into the skillet with the garlic. Stir the cream and garlic together until well combined. Gradually sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese while stirring to create a creamy sauce. Cook for a few minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine the al dente pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss the pasta in the creamy sauce until it is well coated.
- Add the chicken: Add cooked chicken pieces to the pasta and sauce mixture. Toss everything together to combine.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley or basil if desired. Serve the Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta hot, and enjoy!
- Note: You can also cook the juicy chicken breast in an air fryer – follow your air fryer cooking instructions.
Video
Notes
- Refer to the post above for common Q&A and pairing suggestions.
- Nutrition information is an estimate and will depend on your specific ingredients.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts – you can use chicken thighs instead for a richer flavor and juicier texture. Dark meat tends to be more forgiving during cooking, making it less likely to dry out 😏.
- Garlic – you can also use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic, but remember that garlic powder has a milder flavor and provides a more subtle garlic taste without pungency.
- Heavy cream – you can use whole milk as a lighter alternative to create a less rich but still creamy sauce. To thicken the sauce, you’ll need to add a bit of flour as a thickening agent. So you’ll make bechamel sauce (find the steps here) instead of Alfredo sauce 😉.