Description

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a rich, comforting dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked with Italian seasoning and combined with a luscious garlic parmesan sauce. Served over perfectly cooked penne pasta, this recipe balances savory flavors and creamy textures for a satisfying meal perfect for any night of the week.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

8 ounces penne pasta

Chicken

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika
2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 Tablespoon butter

Sauce

½ cup yellow onion, diced
3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups chicken broth
⅓ cup half and half
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Reserved pasta water as needed

Instructions

Cook Pasta: Prepare the penne pasta according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining the pasta and set aside.
Season Chicken: If the chicken breasts are thick, thinly slice them. Pat the chicken dry and season both sides evenly with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and paprika.
Cook Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove the chicken from the pan and keep warm tented with foil.
Sauté Onion: Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and butter to the same pan. When the butter melts, add the diced onion and cook until softened, approximately 3-4 minutes.
Make Roux and Add Garlic: Stir in the flour and minced garlic, cooking for another minute while stirring constantly to form a thick paste.
Add Liquids: Gradually pour in the chicken broth, stirring continuously to break up any lumps. Add the half and half, then bring the mixture to a simmer. The sauce should thicken similar to gravy.
Incorporate Cheese: Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in the freshly grated parmesan cheese. Cook until the cheese has melted and the sauce becomes creamy.
Combine Chicken and Pasta: Slice the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add the sliced chicken and cooked pasta to the sauce, stirring well to combine.
Finish and Adjust: Remove the pan from heat. Stir in the fresh parsley. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach desired creaminess.
Serve: Serve the creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta immediately while warm for the best flavor and texture.

Notes

Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if needed.
Ensure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F for food safety.
Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for the best flavor and smoothest sauce.
You can substitute half and half with heavy cream for a richer sauce or milk for a lighter version.
For extra flavor, garnish with additional fresh parsley before serving.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: Creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta, chicken pasta recipe, creamy pasta, garlic parmesan sauce, easy dinner recipe