Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Introducing this delicious Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta recipe that you NEED to try! Flavorful and juicy chicken strips on a bed of creamy, garlic parmesan flavored spaghetti pasta. This indulgent and yet still light Italian dish is perfect for a quick dinner or meal prep.

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is one of my favorite pasta dishes. Even though it is a creamy pasta, it doesn’t feel very heavy. And every bites is packed with so much flavor. We are combining salty, cheesy, garlicky, creamy to create a luxurious bite of pasta.

Garlic Parmesan Pasta with Chicken

This garlic parmesan chicken pasta is everything my carb-loving heart yearns for – a delicious pasta recipe cooked on the stovetop, where spaghetti is tossed in and infused with the most yummy cream sauce and topped with well-seasoned, juicy strips of chicken.

This is an Italian inspired dish that incorporates great flavors from classic Italian ingredients such as fresh garlic and parmesan cheese. Or better still, use parmigiano reggiano if you can find it. It’s the gold standard of parmesan.

Master this easy garlic parmesan chicken pasta recipe for a delicious and quick dinner tonight!

And oh yes, I totally did say ‘quick’. In fact, you can make this garlic parmesan chicken pasta under 35 minutes, using simple pantry-friendly ingredients.

Garlic parmesan chicken pasta is proof that high quality delicious meals can happen easily and quickly.

Whenever I make this, people rave about it, and then they couldn’t believe how simple it comes together.

Here’s the thing (and the secret): while garlic parmesan chicken pasta is a simple dish, it uses fresh and good quality ingredients, thus making up for its simplicity. The product is a dish packed with incredible taste and texture.

Ingredients

Without further delay, let’s talk about each ingredient that goes into garlic parmesan chicken pasta. Avoid substituting or skipping any of them. Each play an important role in our dish.

• Spaghetti noodles – your favorite brand of pasta will be great. If you have been following my Instagram account, you already know that my current favorite brand of pasta is Rummo. It reminds me of all the delicious pasta I had in Italy! Good quality pasta DOES make a difference, especially in this simple garlic parmesan chicken pasta recipe.
• Chicken breasts – cut the breasts in half length wise (also known as butterflying) before cooking. This helps the chicken cook faster and makes it easier for you to make sure it is cooked all the way through. It also increases the surface areas that is covered in delicious seasoning, thus making your chicken much more flavorful. Chicken thighs, or dark meat chicken, can be used as well.
• Italian seasoning – Italian seasoning is a blend of herbs including basil and oregano. If you don’t have any Italian seasoning, feel free to use basil and/or oregano instead.
• Butter – I typically use salted butter. Just be mindful of the added salt as you cook.
• Garlic – we all know it and love it! I can’t image a pasta dish without fresh garlic. Avoid substituting with garlic powder.
• White wine – wine is an easy way to add complexity to the flavor. Feel free to use any white wine you have on hand. You can also substitute with chicken broth.
• Half & half – this brings richness and creaminess to the overall dish. You can use heavy cream if you like your pasta even creamier.
• Parmesan cheese – Use good quality and avoid the non-refrigerated kind for best flavor. If you can find parmigiano reggiano, use that for best flavor.
• Salt & pepper – Use to taste as both the salted butter and parmesan cheese has a salty flavor already. Salt does open up the flavors of the pasta dish so if you find the flavors flat, you can add salt to help bump up the flavor profile.

How to make it

This Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta recipe probably sounds complicated but it’s really not. Here are the key steps to this pasta dish:

Boil spaghetti: Heat a pot on medium heat. Once water comes to a boil, add pasta and cook based on package instructions. Reserve 1 tbsp of pasta water. Drain the rest of the water and set pasta aside when done.

Season and cook chicken: For a flavorful piece of chicken, make sure to season the chicken breasts. I am using a simple and yet flavorful blend of Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.

Heat oil on a skillet on the stovetop on medium heat. Sear chicken on one side, then turn it over a few minutes later, and sear the other side.

Once cooked all the way through, remove chicken and sliced them up.

To speed up the process, you can prepare chicken while waiting for spaghetti to boil.

Make creamy garlic sauce: in the same skillet that you cooked the chicken, melt butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the garlic. Cook until fragrant – avoid burning garlic.

Add the white wine (or chicken broth). Scrape the bottom of the pan to incorporate all the flavors left from cooking the chicken. It’s the good stuff stuck at the bottom so make sure you get them all out – it brings great flavors to your sauce.

Add the half & half, reserved pasta water, and bring to a boil. Add sauce and black pepper.

Bring spaghetti pasta to cream sauce, and toss to combine using a pair of tongs.

Add parmesan cheese. Toss to combine some more until everything is incorporated.

Bring sliced chicken back into the spaghetti, and toss to combine.

And that’s it! Serve your garlic parmesan chicken pasta warm and enjoy immediately for best taste.

I can eat this scrumptious dish over and over again and never get tired of it!

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta with the below:

• crusty bread – Ciabatta, French bread, sourdough.… something about that pasta and bread combo is simply marvelous.
• side salad – whether it is a simple mixed green with dressing or Caesar, this is a great way to add some greens to your pasta diet!
• roasted veggies – here are some of my favorites: Roasted Lemon Garlic Broccoli, Garlic Sautéed Spinach, and Garlic Honey Roasted Carrots.
• white wine – another perfect pasta pairing…it’s hard to go wrong with wine!

Tips and Tricks

• Quality ingredients: Use high-quality products, especially when it comes to butter (avoid margarine or fake butter!), pasta and cheese. Also, do not use garlic powder – use fresh garlic instead. Fresh and good quality ingredients make a huge difference in the final taste of your garlic parmesan chicken pasta dish.
• Wine use: Use good/fair quality, but not necessarily expensive wine. The rule for me is: use wine that you won’t mind drinking. Don’t overspend on wine, but don’t use bad wine either. Cooking doesn’t take away it’s bad-ness if it’s not great wine.
• Preparing the chicken: Season your chicken thoroughly so it is flavorful; Avoid overcooking to prevent dryness – searing it properly will ensure crispy exterior and juicy interior.
• Cooking pasta: Avoid overcooking pasta. Cook pasta al dente, or firm to the bite because it will continue to cook a bit more in the sauce.
• Creamier sauce: For a creamier and heavier sauce, use heavy cream instead of half and half.
• Spice it up: Add some red pepper flakes if you’d like to have a spicy kick to your pasta.

Storage and Reheating

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Reheat: 1) Microwave: drizzle water or milk over pasta, then reheat in microwave until heated through, or 2) Stovetop: transfer to a skillet or pot, and reheat over medium heat. Add a little bit of water or milk as well when reheating.

Frequently Asked Questions