Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
Tender pasta tossed in a rich garlic cream sauce with juicy chicken and parmesan, Simple, flavorful, and ready in just 30 minutes.
Equipment
- large pot for boiling pasta
- large skillet for making sauce and combining pasta
- colander to drain pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta (or any short pasta)
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream, parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer 3–4 minutes until thickened.
- Add chicken and pasta, tossing to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water a splash at a time for desired creaminess.
- Garnish with parsley and extra parmesan. Serve warm.
Notes
Store in an airtight container up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of milk or cream. Add vegetables like spinach or peas for extra color and nutrition. Use half-and-half instead of cream for a lighter version.
Nutrition
Calories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 32gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 350mgPotassium: 280mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 950IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 180mgIron: 2mg