Description
A luscious blend of tender chicken, swirling pasta, and creamy sauce that feels gourmet yet is quick and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 lb (450 g) twisted pasta (like fusilli)
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 4–5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (freshly grated is best)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning, divided
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- Fine salt & black pepper, to taste
- 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Pat the chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, and ½ tsp Italian seasoning. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 Tbsp of butter. Sear the chicken for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate, keeping the juices.
- Lower the heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 Tbsp of butter, stir in the garlic and optional red pepper flakes, and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up the browned bits from the skillet. Stir in the heavy cream and the remaining ½ tsp of Italian seasoning. Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Reduce the heat to low and gradually sprinkle in the Parmesan, stirring until fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Return the chicken (with juices) to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss until evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, stir in splashes of reserved pasta water until glossy and clinging to the pasta.
- Taste and adjust the salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
For a lighter dish, consider using zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash. You can also add sautéed mushrooms or spinach for additional flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: chicken pasta, creamy pasta, garlic parmesan pasta