Get ready to discover your new weeknight favorite: this incredible One-Pot Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta. It delivers a full-flavored, creamy Italian-style dinner without the mountain of dishes. We combine tender chicken, aromatic garlic, and a rich parmesan sauce with perfectly cooked pasta, all in a single pan. This recipe is designed for busy home cooks who refuse to compromise on taste. It’s simple, satisfying, and oh-so-delicious.
Why This Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta Recipe Is a Winner
You’ll fall in love with the simplicity and flavor of this dish. It’s a complete meal that comes together in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for hectic evenings.
- One-Pot Simplicity: Everything cooks in one pan, from searing the chicken to simmering the sauce and cooking the pasta. Clean-up is an absolute breeze.
- Rich and Creamy Sauce: We build a velvety garlic parmesan sauce that coats every single piece of pasta and chicken. It’s indulgent comfort food at its best.
- Perfectly Cooked Chicken: Searing the chicken first develops a beautiful golden crust, locking in moisture and ensuring tender, juicy results every time.
- Family-Approved: This is a dish the whole family will request again and again. It’s a classic flavor combination that pleases even the pickiest eaters.
Key Ingredients for This Recipe
This recipe uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients to create a restaurant-quality meal. Here’s what you’ll need.
For the Pasta and Chicken:
- Chicken Breast: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized 1-inch pieces for quick and even cooking.
- Pasta: Penne is an excellent choice as the tubes capture the creamy sauce beautifully. Fettuccine or rotini also work well.
- Chicken Broth: This is the base of our cooking liquid, infusing the pasta with savory flavor.
- Heavy Cream: The secret to an ultra-creamy, luxurious sauce.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan is non-negotiable! It melts better and provides a much richer flavor than the pre-shredded kind.
For the Aromatics and Seasoning:
- Olive Oil & Butter: A combination of both gives the best flavor for sautéing.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is essential for that signature aroma and taste.
- Italian Seasoning: A blend of dried herbs that adds instant depth.
- Salt and Black Pepper: To taste.
- Fresh Parsley: For a fresh, vibrant finish.
How to Make Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta Step-by-Step
Follow these simple steps to create a perfect one-pot meal. It’s easier than you think!
- Sear the Chicken: Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown on all sides. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
- Sauté the Garlic: To the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn.
- Build the Sauce & Cook Pasta: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer, then stir in the pasta. Cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Finish the Creamy Sauce: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Combine and Serve: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Stir everything together to coat the chicken and pasta in the sauce. Let it heat through for a minute. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Expert Tips for the Best Results
A few pro tips can take this simple dish from great to absolutely spectacular.
- Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: Pre-shredded cheeses are often coated with anti-caking agents that prevent them from melting smoothly. Grating your own from a block is the key to a silky sauce.
- Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Remember the pasta will continue to cook slightly as it sits in the hot sauce. Cook it just until al dente for the perfect texture.
- Control the Heat: When adding the cream and cheese, make sure the heat is on low. High heat can cause the dairy to separate or the cheese to clump. Looking for another cheesy pasta dish? Try our Creamy Pepper Jack Pasta.
Variations and Fun Add-ins
While this recipe is fantastic as is, feel free to customize it! Add some steamed broccoli florets or a few handfuls of fresh spinach at the end for extra veggies. For a kick of heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic works wonders. For a spicy cajun twist, our Spicy Cajun Chicken Alfredo is a must-try.
What to Serve with Your Pasta
This Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta is a hearty meal on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides. A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette is a perfect fresh contrast. For something more substantial, you can’t go wrong with warm Homemade Garlic Knots to soak up every last bit of the delicious sauce.
This dish is best served fresh, as cream-based sauces can thicken significantly upon refrigeration. For the best results, we recommend making it right before you plan to eat.
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs would be delicious. They may take a minute or two longer to cook through, but they will add extra flavor and moisture to the dish.
The key is to use freshly grated Parmesan cheese and add it over low heat. Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Also, make sure you don’t let the sauce boil after adding the cheese.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm it in a saucepan over low heat. You may need to add a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce as it will thicken when chilled.
Penne is ideal because the tubes hold the creamy sauce well. However, you can easily substitute other short pastas like rotini or ziti, or long pastas like fettuccine or linguine.
This dish is best served fresh, as cream-based sauces can thicken significantly upon refrigeration. For the best results, we recommend making it right before you plan to eat.
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs would be delicious. They may take a minute or two longer to cook through, but they will add extra flavor and moisture to the dish.
The key is to use freshly grated Parmesan cheese and add it over low heat. Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Also, make sure you don’t let the sauce boil after adding the cheese.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm it in a saucepan over low heat. You may need to add a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce as it will thicken when chilled.
Penne is ideal because the tubes hold the creamy sauce well. However, you can easily substitute other short pastas like rotini or ziti, or long pastas like fettuccine or linguine.
A Perfect Meal to Share
This One-Pot Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta is more than just a recipe; it’s a solution for busy nights and a surefire crowd-pleaser. It’s comforting, easy to make, and impossibly flavorful. Give it a try and watch it become a staple in your dinner rotation! If you love this recipe, don’t forget to save it to your favorite board on Pinterest!
Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta (Easy One-Pot Recipe)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown on all sides. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
- To the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer, then stir in the pasta. Cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Stir everything together to coat the chicken and pasta in the sauce. Let it heat through for a minute. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Tip 2: Add a handful of spinach or broccoli florets in the last few minutes of cooking for added nutrition.
Tip 3: Ensure your heat is low when adding the cream and cheese to prevent the sauce from separating.
