Description
This creamy garlic chicken pasta is a quick and satisfying dish featuring tender chicken, a rich Parmesan-infused garlic sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s an ideal choice for busy weeknights and guaranteed to please the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10.5 oz (300 g) penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon (20 g) unsalted butter
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium shallot, finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ⅓ cup (75 ml) dry white wine (or chicken broth)
- 1 cup (200 ml) heavy cream (double cream)
- ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
- A handful of fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of pasta water to adjust the sauce later if needed.
- Sauté the chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook for 5-6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Cook the aromatics: In the same pan, add the diced shallot and sauté for 1 minute until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Deglaze and season: Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning and pour in the white wine or chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes until the liquid reduces slightly.
- Make the sauce: Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream, letting it simmer gently for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Combine everything: Add the cooked pasta and reserved chicken back into the pan, tossing well to coat in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
- Finish and serve: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, then serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra flavor: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for mild heat or a splash of lemon juice for brightness.
- Make it richer: Stir in a tablespoon of cream cheese or crispy bacon bits.
- Storing leftovers: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stove with a splash of milk or cream to restore the texture.
- Dairy-free alternative: Swap heavy cream with coconut milk and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 649
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 411mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 46g
- Cholesterol: 182mg