Description
Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Pasta is a creamy, flavorful one-pan meal featuring tender seasoned chicken breasts cooked to perfection and tossed with al dente penne pasta in a rich garlic parmesan sauce. This easy-to-make dish combines Italian seasoning, sautéed onions and garlic, chicken broth, and heavy cream to create a comforting dinner ideal for weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 tbsp avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast (butterflied or beaten down to about ½" thickness)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
Sauce and Pasta
- 1 tbsp avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ jumbo yellow onion (diced, about 1 cup)
- 4-6 large cloves garlic (minced)
- 8 oz dry penne pasta (normal, gluten free, or protein pasta)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
Instructions
- Season the chicken: In a small bowl, mix together Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Pat the chicken breasts dry and rub both sides evenly with the seasoning mixture.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add 1 tbsp avocado oil. Once hot, place the seasoned chicken breasts in the pan and cook for 5 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside to rest.
- Sauté aromatics: Reduce heat to medium-low. Add remaining avocado oil and the butter to the pan. Add diced onion and season with a pinch of salt. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute while stirring to release its fragrance.
- Deglaze and cook pasta: Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Bring the broth to a light boil. Add the dry penne pasta and stir to submerge it in the broth. Cover the pan and cook for 10 minutes or until the pasta is al dente.
- Finish the sauce: Turn off the heat. Stir in the grated parmesan cheese, heavy cream, and chopped parsley. Mix until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Combine and serve: Slice the cooked chicken into strips and add it into the pasta and sauce. Toss gently to combine all ingredients. Serve immediately and enjoy your creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta.
Notes
- This recipe requires only one pan, making cleanup easy and fast.
- For a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, though the sauce will be less rich.
- Use gluten-free pasta if needed to make this dish gluten-free.
- To add extra veggies, consider stirring in baby spinach or frozen peas after cooking the pasta and before adding cheese.
- Make sure to not overcook the pasta; it should be al dente to maintain texture in the creamy sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 665 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1021 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 138 mg
