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Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

The Crispy Chef
Rich, comforting, and totally restaurant-worthy, this creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta combines tender chicken, a silky garlic cream sauce, and perfectly coated pasta—all in under 30 minutes. A go-to weeknight dinner that feels like a weekend indulgence.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American Comfort Food, Italian-inspired
Servings 4 servings
Calories 485 kcal

Equipment

  • Large skillet or sauté pan
  • Large pot (for pasta)
  • Meat mallet or rolling pin
  • Tongs
  • Whisk
  • Cheese grater
  • Colander
  • Serving bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (680g), pounded
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (30ml)
  • 12 oz fettuccine or penne pasta (340g)
  • 4 tbsp butter (60g)
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 0.25 cup all-purpose flour (30g)
  • 2 cups chicken broth (480ml)
  • 1 cup heavy cream (240ml)
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (100g)
  • 0.5 cup cream cheese, softened (115g)
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon juice (10ml)
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • Extra Parmesan for serving
  • Black pepper for garnish
  • Lemon wedges (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Place chicken between plastic wrap and pound to ¾-inch thick. Season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  • Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a boil. You'll cook the pasta while the sauce simmers.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken 6–7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and let rest before slicing into strips.
  • Cook pasta according to package directions minus 1 minute. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  • In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  • Whisk in flour and cook 1–2 minutes to form a light roux. This helps thicken the sauce.
  • Gradually whisk in chicken broth, then add heavy cream. Simmer until slightly thickened.
  • Remove from heat and whisk in cream cheese, then Parmesan until smooth. Stir in lemon juice and red pepper flakes if using.
  • Add cooked pasta and sliced chicken to sauce. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water to adjust consistency as needed.
  • Transfer to serving bowls and top with parsley, extra Parmesan, black pepper, and lemon wedges. Serve hot.

Notes

Use freshly grated Parmesan for a silky sauce. Avoid high heat after adding cheese to prevent curdling. Customize with shrimp, spinach, or sun-dried tomatoes. For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half and reduce cream cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 485kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 35gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 620mgPotassium: 490mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 950IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 250mgIron: 1.8mg
Keyword 30 minute meal, Creamy Chicken Pasta, Garlic Parmesan, one pot pasta
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