Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta (Printable)
Silky garlic-parmesan cream coats tender chicken and fettuccine for a satisfying weeknight meal in about 35 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ Pasta
02 - 12 ounces fettuccine or linguine
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
→ Dairy
06 - 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
07 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
→ Pantry
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
10 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (optional)
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook fettuccine or linguine following package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
02 - Butterfly chicken breasts and season both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, and Italian herbs if using.
03 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Sear seasoned chicken breasts for 5 to 6 minutes per side until golden and fully cooked. Transfer chicken to a plate, cover loosely, and let rest.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, sauté chopped onion for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
05 - Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
06 - Stir in heavy cream and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Add grated Parmesan cheese and stir until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
07 - Slice rested chicken breasts thinly. Return sliced chicken to the skillet with the sauce. Add cooked pasta and toss gently to combine, adding reserved pasta water as necessary to achieve desired sauce consistency.
08 - Stir chopped parsley into the skillet and mix thoroughly. Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- If you quietly crave restaurant-style comfort at home, this pasta delivers with silky sauce and seared chicken.
- I stopped looking for quick dinners after discovering how this warms the table in under 40 minutes.
02 -
- Add the Parmesan off the heat or the sauce might split and go grainy — I learned that one the hard way.
- Saving some starchy pasta water is magic for fixing too-thick sauce, so don’t forget to scoop it out before draining.
03 -
- Don’t crowd the chicken in the pan or you’ll lose that golden sear — give it space.
- Freshly grated Parmesan never clumps and dissolves like a dream in the cream.