Description
This creamy Parmesan pasta is combined with savory garlic butter chicken bites, creating a rich and flavorful meal that’s perfect for weeknights or special occasions. A deliciously creamy, cheesy pasta tossed with tender chicken, bursting with garlic and butter—what more could you want?
Ingredients
Scale
For the garlic butter chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the creamy Parmesan pasta:
- 12 oz pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (or pasta water)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Make the garlic butter chicken: While the pasta cooks, heat 3 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken cubes and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
- Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Make the creamy Parmesan sauce: In the same skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Combine the pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce, tossing until the pasta is coated in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water to thin it out.
- Add the chicken: Return the cooked garlic butter chicken bites to the skillet and toss everything together until combined.
- Serve: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, and serve hot.
Notes
- Feel free to add some sautéed vegetables, like spinach or mushrooms, to make the dish even heartier.
- For a lighter version, you can substitute the heavy cream with half-and-half or milk, though the sauce will be less rich.
- You can also use grilled chicken for a slightly different flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 31g
- Saturated Fat: 17
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 90mg