Description
A comforting and creamy pasta dish with tender chicken and rich Parmesan sauce, perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 lb (450 g) pasta (penne, fusilli, or rotini)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 4 to 5 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, divided
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve about half a cup of pasta water before draining. Set aside.
- Pat the chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, and half of the Italian seasoning. Melt one tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and sear until golden and cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
- Lower the heat to medium. Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the garlic and red pepper flakes if using. Sauté briefly until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up the browned bits. Stir in the cream and remaining Italian seasoning. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Reduce the heat to low and gradually stir in the Parmesan cheese until fully melted and smooth.
- Return the chicken and its juices to the skillet. Add the pasta and toss to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
For a lighter version, use half-and-half or a plant-based cream. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, chicken pasta, comfort food, family meal