Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is the ultimate cozy dish, perfect for any night when you need something warm and comforting. Ready in just 30 minutes and made in a single pan, it’s ideal for busy evenings with minimal cleanup. Tender, juicy chicken in a rich, garlicky Parmesan sauce wraps around every bite of pasta, making each forkful a burst of flavor that’s just cheesy enough and never overwhelming. This simple, delicious meal is sure to be a hit with everyone at the table, and don’t be surprised if they’re asking for seconds!
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
One night, I put together this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta when I was craving something cozy and packed with flavor. Funny enough, garlic might not be the first thing you'd think of for a chill night in, but I’m all about it.
This dish is simple comfort food at its best. It all comes together in one pan, so there’s less cleanup and more time to sit back and enjoy. With tender chicken, a rich garlic Parmesan sauce, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs, it’s warm, cheesy, and perfect alongside a fresh salad.
What makes it even better? It’s super flexible. When I’m short on time, I’ll use a pre-made garlic Parmesan sauce. But when I feel like making it extra special, I whip up the sauce from scratch for an extra garlicky, cheesy kick.
Whether it’s a quick dinner on a busy weeknight or a relaxed weekend meal, this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta feels like a restaurant treat but is so much easier and more affordable at home.
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⭐Why You'll Love This Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Quick & Easy: This dish is super simple to make, yet tastes like something from a fancy restaurant. You can have it ready in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy nights or special meals.
- Tender Chicken: The chicken is seasoned with Italian herbs, crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside, perfectly complementing the creamy pasta.
- Customizable: Feel free to adjust the seasoning or add veggies like spinach, mushrooms, or sun-dried tomatoes to mix up the flavors.
- Crowd-Pleaser: This dish is guaranteed to impress. Whether it’s for family, friends, or a romantic dinner, everyone will love it!
🧾Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta:
For the Chicken:
- Chicken Breast: I go for chicken breast because it’s tender and absorbs flavors perfectly for pasta.
- Salt, White Pepper, Italian Seasoning, and Paprika: This mix brings out the best in the chicken. Salt enhances the flavor, white pepper gives gentle heat, Italian herbs add a nice Mediterranean touch, and paprika adds a hint of smokiness and color.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I use extra virgin olive oil for a subtle richness that helps the chicken cook up golden and crispy.
For the Pasta:
- Onion: Adds a bit of sweetness and depth when sautéed, forming the base of the sauce.
- Butter: Butter gives the sauce a smooth, creamy base and adds richness when cooking the onion and garlic.
- Garlic: Essential for its bold, fragrant flavor that deepens the dish.
- Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and a savory depth to the sauce, making it more flavorful and coating the pasta nicely.
- Penne Pasta: I pefer to use Penne pasta. It is perfect for holding onto the sauce, making each bite satisfying. You can use macaroni pasta instead of penne pasta.
- Heavy Cream: Adds a luxurious creaminess that turns the broth into a velvety sauce.
- Parmesan Cheese: A little salty and nutty, Parmesan thickens the sauce and brings richness.
- Parsley: Adds a fresh pop of color and a light, herby touch.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Season the chicken breasts with salt and spices rubbing them evenly on both sides.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 6–7 minutes on each side.
3. Once cooked take the chicken out of the pan and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing it into thin strips or small pieces.
4. In the same pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, then add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
5. Add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Stir in the penne, cover, and cook for 7 minutes.
6. Add the heavy cream and stir until mixed. Cook for 1 minute, then add the Parmesan and stir until it melts into the sauce.
7. Once mixed, top the dish with chopped parsley for a fresh touch.
8. Stir in the sliced chicken and cook for 1 minute to heat through. Serve the garlic Parmesan chicken pasta warm, with extra Parmesan on top.
🍽 What to Serve with Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
This recipe is perfect for an easy pasta dinner any time of the week. I love serving my garlic parmesan chicken pasta hot, right out of the pan. It’s perfect with ciabatta for soaking up all that tasty garlic parmesan sauce.
For sides, I usually choose tomato burrata salad, or marinated tomatoes.
To drink, I like lemonade, and for dessert, nothing beats a sweet chocolate mousse to finish off the meal.
💭Tips for Recipe Success
Don’t overcrowd the pan: Cook the chicken in batches if needed. Overcrowding will steam the chicken instead of searing it, which affects the texture.
Sauté onions and garlic gently: Take your time with the onions and garlic. Cook them on medium heat to bring out their flavors and caramelize the onion for a natural sweetness.
Simmer the sauce gently: Once you add the cream, keep the heat low. High heat can cause the cream to separate, leaving the sauce greasy or curdled.
Storage: Store leftover Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
🍛More Pasta Recipes to Try!
If you're loving this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta, you'll also adore these tasty pasta recipes:
- Gigi Hadid Pasta
- Rahm Noodles
- Chicken Alfredo Pasta Fettuccine
- Apple Macaroni
- Tagliatelle Alfredo
- Cherry Tomato Pasta
🍛More Comfort Food Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite comfort food recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 500 g Chicken Breast
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon White Pepper Powder
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
For the Pasta:
- 1 Onion
- 2 tablespoon Butter
- 4 Garlic Cloves
- 500 ml Chicken Broth
- 200 g Penne Pasta
- 150 ml Heavy Cream
- 100 g Parmesan Cheese
- 2 tablespoon Parsley
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts with salt, white pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Rub the spices evenly on both sides.
- Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 6-7 minutes per side or until fully cooked (internal temperature should reach 75°C / 165°F).
- Once cooked, remove the chicken from the pan and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing it into thin strips or bite-sized pieces.
- In the same pan where you cooked the chicken, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute, stirring frequently to avoid burning the garlic.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring it to a simmer. Stir in the penne pasta, cover, and cook for 7 minutes.
- Add the heavy cream, stirring until fully combined. Cook for 1 minute, add the grated Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese melts into the sauce.
- Once everything is well combined, sprinkle the dish with chopped parsley for a fresh touch.
- Gently stir in the sliced chicken and cook everything together for 1 minute to heat through.
- Serve the garlic Parmesan chicken pasta warm, topped with additional Parmesan.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandra says
This Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a total winner! The creamy sauce is packed with flavor, and the chicken is perfectly cooked. It's so easy to make and even better to eat. This is definitely a new family favorite!