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Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta with Parmesan

A close-up of creamy Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta with Parmesan, topped with fresh parsley.
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Make this simple and flavorful garlic butter chicken pasta. This recipe uses fresh garlic and rich butter to create a sauce that coats tender chicken and pasta, finished with grated Parmesan cheese.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound pasta (fettuccine or penne recommended)
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
  2. Season the chicken pieces with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
  3. Heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the broth reduce slightly for 2 minutes.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently for 3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
  7. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth.
  8. Add the cooked chicken and the drained pasta back into the skillet. Toss everything to coat evenly. If the sauce seems too thick, add reserved pasta water, one splash at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
  9. Stir in the fresh parsley. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese on top.

Notes

  • Use fresh garlic for the best flavor in this sauce.
  • For a richer sauce, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese instead of pre-shredded.
  • You can add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic for a little heat.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://magazinemeal.com/garlic-butter-chicken-pasta-with-parmesan/