Creamy Chicken Pasta Recipe – Easy & Delicious Dinner Idea
Enjoy this creamy chicken pasta recipe, easy to make and full of flavor. Perfect for weeknight dinners or a comforting homemade meal in just 30 minutes.
Equipment
- Large pot for boiling pasta
- Large skillet or frying pan (12-inch works best)
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Tongs or pasta spoon
- Knife and cutting board
- Cheese grater
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Paper towels
Ingredients
For the Pasta and Chicken:
- 400 g pasta penne, fettuccine, or your choice
- 500 g chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
For the Sauce:
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup fresh Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
For Garnish:
- Fresh parsley chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Black pepper
Instructions
Cook the pasta:
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Save 1 cup pasta water before draining.
Season and cook chicken:
- Pat chicken dry, season with salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
Make the sauce:
- In the same pan, add remaining oil and butter. Cook garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add chicken broth and scrape up brown bits from the pan.
Add cream:
- Pour in heavy cream, add basil and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
Add cheese:
- Lower heat to medium-low. Add Parmesan gradually, stirring until melted and smooth.
Combine:
- Return chicken to pan. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat. Add pasta water if sauce is too thick.
Serve:
- Garnish with parsley, extra Parmesan, and black pepper. Serve hot.
Nutrition (per serving):
- Approximately 650 calories, 35g protein, 55g carbs, 32g fat