Description
A quick and comforting 30-minute pasta dish featuring tender chicken, fettuccine or penne, and a rich creamy garlic Parmesan sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy dinners.
Ingredients
2 chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
8 oz (225g) fettuccine or penne pasta
1 cup reserved pasta water
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set the pasta aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add chicken strips, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5–6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Add the cooked pasta and chicken back to the skillet. Toss to coat everything in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen it.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and additional Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately while hot and creamy.
Notes
Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter version.
Add red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
Include vegetables like spinach, broccoli, or sun-dried tomatoes for more nutrition.
Use any pasta you have on hand—spaghetti, rotini, or rigatoni work well.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat, add a splash of milk or cream to loosen the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 23g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 160mg
