Description
This Creamy Parmesan Pasta with Garlic Butter Chicken Bites is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken pieces sautéed in garlic butter, nestled atop a rich, creamy Parmesan sauce tossed with your choice of pasta. Perfectly seasoned with Italian herbs and garnished with fresh parsley, it’s a satisfying meal ready in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Garlic Butter
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Pasta and Sauce
- 12 oz pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (or pasta water)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Make the garlic butter chicken: While the pasta cooks, heat 3 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken cubes and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
- Add garlic to chicken: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Prepare the creamy Parmesan sauce: In the same skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute to release the aroma.
- Add cream and broth: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add Parmesan and season: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Continue stirring until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce, tossing until well coated. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water to thin it out.
- Add chicken back in: Return the cooked garlic butter chicken bites to the skillet and toss everything together to combine evenly.
- Serve and garnish: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve hot for a delicious and creamy pasta dinner.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken broth with reserved pasta water for a lighter sauce.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for best melting and flavor.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to your taste preferences.
- Fresh parsley adds a fresh color and subtle flavor, garnish just before serving.
- Use any pasta shape you like, but long noodles like spaghetti or fettuccine work particularly well for this sauce.
