Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

5 from 1 vote

This Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a delicious and savory dish that combines tender chicken, flavorful garlic, creamy Parmesan cheese, and pasta.

Prep Time15

Cook Time25

Total Time40

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: people

Calories: 689kcal

Author: Dr. Nena Stefanovic

Equipment

1 Cast-iron skillet optional

Ingredients

8 oz pasta fettuccine, linguine, or penne
10 oz chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
3 tablespoon 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 😉.

Nutrition