Description
Creamy, flavorful, and deeply comforting, Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is the perfect easy dinner recipe for weeknights or cozy weekend meals. Tender, seasoned chicken breasts are seared until golden, then served over pasta swirled in a rich, garlicky Parmesan cream sauce. This one-pan meal is quick to make, deeply satisfying, and a go-to choice for comfort food lovers. Whether you’re looking for quick dinner ideas, an easy recipe for guests, or simply delicious food ideas to try, this pasta checks every box.
Ingredients
1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
10 oz cavatappi pasta
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Pat chicken dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken until golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Remove and let rest.
3. In a separate pot, cook cavatappi pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
4. In the same skillet used for the chicken, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Pour in heavy cream and stir gently. Add Parmesan cheese and continue stirring until melted and the sauce is smooth.
6. Add the drained pasta to the sauce. Toss to coat evenly. Use reserved pasta water to adjust the sauce thickness as needed.
7. Slice the rested chicken into strips and place on top of the pasta.
8. Garnish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan. Serve hot.
Notes
Make sure to sear the chicken without moving it too much to get that perfect golden crust.
Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best melting and flavor. Pre-grated cheese may not melt as smoothly.
Don’t skip the pasta water — it helps emulsify the sauce and gives it the perfect creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pan, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approx ¼ of recipe)
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg
Keywords: easy dinner, chicken pasta, creamy pasta, weeknight meal, one-skillet dinner