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Southern Style Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Southern Style Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pasta

The Crispy Chef
Rich, Southern-seasoned chicken meets velvety parmesan cream sauce in this indulgent 30-minute pasta that tastes like a $25 restaurant dish—comfort food meets Italian flair.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Southern Fusion
Servings 4 servings
Calories 545 kcal

Equipment

  • Large skillet for chicken
  • Large pot (for pasta)
  • Medium saucepan for sauce
  • Meat mallet
  • Whisk
  • Tongs
  • Cheese grater
  • Colander

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (pounded to even thickness)
  • 2 tsp paprika (smoked preferred)
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 12 oz fettuccine or penne pasta
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • red pepper flakes (to taste)
  • fresh cracked black pepper (to taste)

Instructions
 

  • Place chicken between plastic wrap and pound to ¾-inch thickness for even cooking.
  • Mix paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
  • Season both sides of chicken generously with the spice mixture.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken 6–7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
  • Transfer chicken to a plate to rest 5 minutes, then slice into strips. Keep pan drippings for extra flavor.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
  • In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Whisk in flour and stir 2 minutes to make a roux.
  • Slowly add heavy cream and milk while whisking. Add Worcestershire sauce. Simmer gently until thickened.
  • Remove from heat. Whisk in cream cheese until smooth, then add parmesan in batches, stirring constantly.
  • Stir in lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper. Adjust consistency with pasta water if needed.
  • Mix cooked pasta into the sauce, tossing to coat evenly.
  • Add sliced chicken on top of pasta or stir in. Heat through if needed.
  • Garnish with bacon (if using), green onions, parsley, red pepper flakes, and cracked pepper.
  • Serve immediately while hot, optionally with extra parmesan on top.

Notes

Use freshly grated parmesan and avoid boiling after cheese is added to keep the sauce smooth. Let the chicken rest after cooking and reserve pasta water to help adjust sauce consistency. Perfect for both weeknights and date nights.

Nutrition

Calories: 545kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 38gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 140mgSodium: 710mgPotassium: 520mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1100IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 300mgIron: 2.2mg
Keyword comfort food, creamy parmesan pasta, easy pasta dinner, southern chicken pasta
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