Get ready to fall in love with the ultimate comfort food: this incredibly decadent Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta. This dish features tender, pan-seared chicken and perfectly cooked pasta, all tossed in a luxuriously creamy garlic butter sauce with a hint of Parmesan. It’s the kind of meal that tastes like it came from a restaurant but is surprisingly simple to whip up on a busy weeknight. If you’re looking for a recipe that will impress your family and friends without spending hours in the kitchen, you’ve found it. This is pure, unadulterated comfort in a bowl.
We’re taking simple, high-quality ingredients and combining them in a way that creates layers of flavor. The rich garlic butter sauce clings to every piece of pasta and chicken, ensuring every bite is absolutely packed with deliciousness. Let’s get cooking!
Why This Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta Recipe Works
This isn’t just another pasta dish; it’s a perfectly balanced, flavor-packed meal that delivers on every level. Here’s why this recipe stands out from the rest:
- Unbelievable Flavor: The sauce is the star. We use real butter, fresh garlic, and a touch of heavy cream to create a rich, savory sauce that’s perfectly complemented by salty Parmesan cheese.
- Quick and Easy: From start to finish, this entire meal comes together in about 30 minutes, making it the perfect solution for hectic weeknights when you’re craving something special.
- Completely Customizable: This recipe is a fantastic base. You can easily add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms, or turn up the heat with a pinch of red pepper flakes. It’s easy to make it your own.
The Key Ingredients for Success
The magic of this garlic butter chicken pasta comes from using simple, quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Chicken Breast: We use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces for quick cooking and easy eating.
- Pasta: Fettuccine or linguine are excellent choices as their shape is perfect for holding onto the creamy sauce, but any pasta you have on hand will work.
- Butter: This is the base of our sauce. Use unsalted butter so you can control the saltiness of the final dish.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is non-negotiable for the best flavor. Avoid the pre-minced jarred kind if you can.
- Heavy Cream: This gives the sauce its signature luxurious, creamy texture.
- Parmesan Cheese: For the best results, use a block of Parmesan and grate it yourself. It melts much better than pre-shredded cheese.
- Chicken Broth: This adds depth to the sauce and helps thin it to the perfect consistency.
- Parsley: Fresh parsley adds a pop of color and freshness that cuts through the richness of the sauce.
How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta: A Step-by-Step Guide
This creamy chicken pasta comes together in just a few simple steps. Follow this guide for perfect results every time.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your pasta according to package directions until al dente. Just before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. This is liquid gold for finishing your sauce.
- Prepare the Chicken: While the pasta cooks, season the bite-sized chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Build the Garlic Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn. Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Make It Creamy: Whisk in the heavy cream and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Combine Everything: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together to coat in the glorious sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Serve: Stir in fresh parsley and serve immediately. Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
For another fantastic one-pot meal, try these One-Pot Steak Pasta which delivers big flavor with minimal cleanup.
Tips for the Perfect Creamy Pasta
Want to elevate your garlic butter chicken pasta? Keep these pro tips in mind:
- Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Cook the pasta until it’s al dente (still has a slight bite). It will continue to cook a little more when you toss it in the hot sauce.
- Save Your Pasta Water: The starchy water is an essential ingredient for a silky sauce. It helps the sauce cling to the pasta and can be used to thin it out if it becomes too thick.
- Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: Pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that prevent them from melting smoothly. Grating your own from a block makes a world of difference.
- Don’t Burn the Garlic: Cook the garlic just until it’s fragrant (about 30 seconds). Burnt garlic will make the entire dish bitter.
Delicious Variations to Try
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to customize. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Add Veggies: Stir in a few handfuls of fresh spinach at the end until wilted, or add sautéed mushrooms or steamed broccoli.
- Make it Spicy: Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes along with the garlic for a little kick. For a different flavor profile, consider this Spicy Honey BBQ Sausage Pasta.
- A Squeeze of Lemon: Brighten up the sauce by adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving.
- Add Sun-Dried Tomatoes: For a delicious tangy flavor, add some chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce.
What to Serve with Your Pasta
This Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta is a complete meal on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides. A crisp Summer Kale Salad adds a fresh, healthy contrast to the rich pasta. You could also serve it with garlic bread for soaking up every last bit of the delicious sauce, or with a side of steamed asparagus or roasted broccoli.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The sauce will thicken as it cools. To reheat, add the pasta to a skillet over low-medium heat with a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce. Heat gently, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! This recipe is very versatile. You can add a few handfuls of fresh spinach at the end of cooking, or toss in sautéed mushrooms, steamed broccoli, or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor and nutrition.
The key is the combination of heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, thinned with a little chicken broth and starchy pasta water. Using the reserved pasta water is crucial, as its starches help emulsify the sauce, making it creamy and smooth without being overly rich.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, gently warm the pasta in a skillet over low heat with a splash of milk or chicken broth. This will help loosen the sauce and restore its creamy texture.
Long pasta shapes like fettuccine, linguine, or spaghetti are excellent because they provide plenty of surface area for the creamy sauce to cling to. However, you can also use short pasta like penne or rigatoni.
More Delicious Pasta Recipes To Explore
If you loved this dish, you’ll definitely want to check out some of our other popular pasta recipes. From hearty baked dishes to quick weeknight solutions, there’s always something new to try. This Garlic Butter Steak and Cheesy Rigatoni is another fan favorite!
The Perfect Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta Recipe
Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta (The Only Recipe You Need)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden and cooked through (5-7 minutes). Remove from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Whisk in heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss to combine. If needed, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach desired sauce consistency. Stir in fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Save the starchy pasta water! It's the key to creating a silky smooth sauce.
Feel free to add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms to make this a complete one-pan meal.
We are confident this will become your new go-to recipe for Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta. If you make it, please leave a comment below to let us know how it turned out! For more delicious recipe inspiration, be sure to follow us on Pinterest.
