Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta - This chicken pasta recipe is creamy, cheesy, and garlicky and a restaurant-style dish that is simply made in one skillet, and is ready to eat in under 1 hour.
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is the ideal dinner for busy families who enjoy good food, bold flavors, and comforting meals but don’t have loads of extra time to spend preparing huge feasts!
You can’t have too many easy chicken and pasta recipes! It’s a combination that everyone loves and there are so many ways to make them, so it never gets boring.
Tender chicken and pasta smothered in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce is the stuff that will have everyone licking their plates clean!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Easy to make - Other than the pasta, everything gets cooked and baked in one pan, which means not only is making it easy, so is the clean up after!
- Taste amazing - Zesty, savory, creamy, and garlicky flavors come together in a way that has everyone’s mouth watering in anticipation. Then, each bite only gets better!
- From scratch - There is a TikTok recipe going around that uses Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan sauce and while it’s probably uber delicious, there’s something to be said about making your own from scratch. It’s so much better!
Recipe Tips for this Chicken Thigh Pasta Recipe
- I like to cook my pasta al dente so that it doesn’t overcook while in the oven.
- You can choose to use chicken breasts if preferred. You can also use leftover cooked chicken, or rotisserie chicken to make life a little easier.
- For a little kick of heat, toss in some red pepper flakes!
- If your sauce is too thick for your liking, add a splash more of chicken broth.
- If it’s too thin, sprinkle in a little extra Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients for Creamy Chicken Pasta
- Pasta: Use whichever uncooked medium pasta noodles you prefer. Penna, rigatoni, fusilli, etc.
- Chicken thighs: Boneless skinless chicken thighs are what I like to use because of the extra flavor that comes from dark meat. Pat the meat dry with paper towels.
- Seasoning: Poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Unsalted butter: For extra flavor when searing the chicken. You can use oil but it’s just not the same!
For the Cream Sauce
- Butter and garlic: Both work together to form the base of the creamy Parmesan sauce. The butter helps to cook the garlic until fragrant, and the garlic infuses the butter with flavor.
- Flour: Adding flour to the butter and garlic will make a roux which will eventually thicken the sauce.
- Chicken broth: A very flavorful liquid that adds savory, seasoned flavors. Use your favorite store-bought broth or use my homemade Instant Pot chicken broth recipe.
- Heavy whipping cream: Adds a creamy rich consistency.
- Parmesan cheese: Once melted into the sauce it adds that wonderful Parmesan cheese flavor that pairs well with garlic, butter, chicken, pasta, all the things!
- Salt and pepper: To taste.
- Dill: Fresh finely chopped dill for garnish. A pop of color and a vibrant finish!
How to Make Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Step 1: Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
Step 2: Season the chicken on all sides. Sear each piece in an oven-proof skillet over medium heat. It should take about 5-7 minutes per side.
Step 3: Once the chicken is cooked through and has a beautiful golden color, transfer it to a cutting board. Let it rest for a few minutes and then cut it into bite-size pieces.
Step 4: In the same skillet, melt more butter and sauté the garlic for 1 minute until fragrant. Sprinkle in the flour and stir continuously for another minute.
Step 5: Slowly pour in the chicken broth while continuously whisking to make sure all the flour gets dissolved and the sauce thickens.
Step 6: Stir in the cream and the cheese. Add salt and pepper if needed. Return the chicken pieces back into the skillet and sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top.
Step 7: Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for 15-20 minutes, uncovered, until heated through and bubbly. Garnish with fresh dill just before serving. Enjoy!
FAQs
Since this dish is creamy and cheesy, you could go a couple of ways with a side salad.
Complement the creaminess with a classic Caesar salad with the best homemade dressing or you could cut the cream with an acidic salad like this refreshing cherry tomato salad, a simple Italian salad, or a zesty delicious Greek salad.
If you’re lucky enough to have some left, keep it refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Take it to work the next day for lunch or reheat it for dinner the next day!
Just zap it in the microwave for a couple of minutes and voila! You may need to thin out the sauce a bit, so add a splash of cream if needed.
More Chicken Thighs Recipes
- Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Creamy Chicken Casserole
- Creamy Chicken Mushroom Recipe
- Grilled Chicken Thighs
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📖 Recipe
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta uncooked
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 chicken thighs boneless/skinless dried with paper towel
- 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning divided, I like to use 21 Salute Seasoning from Trader Joe's
- sea salt & pepper to taste
For Creamy Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons garlic finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated, plus more for garnish
- sea salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon dill finely chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the package. Preheat the oven to 375F. Season chicken thighs with poultry spice, salt & pepper on both sides.
- Add butter to oven safe skillet and melt over medium heat. Once melted add chicken thighs and sear for 5-7 minutes on one side without moving it, flip on the other side and sear for 7-10 minutes or until chicken is cooked thru. Transfer onto a cutting board, let cool. Then slice into slices.
To Make Creamy Sauce
- Into the same skillet add butter. Once melted add garlic and saute for 1 minute, stirring few times.
- Add flour and stir continuously for 1 minute. Slowly stir in chicken broth and cook for 1-2 minutes stirring continuously, or until sauce thickens. Stir in heavy whipping cream. Stir in cheese and season with sea salt and pepper, to taste.
- Into the sauce add cooked pasta, sliced chicken, and grate Parmesan cheese over the top, to taste. Bake for 15-20 minutes, uncovered or until heated thru. Garnish with dill and more cheese. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- I love cooking my pasta al dente because it keeps that perfect bite and doesn’t get mushy in the oven!
- If you’re not a fan of chicken breasts, no worries at all—you can easily use leftover cooked chicken or grab a rotisserie chicken to save some time.
- Now, if you like a little kick, feel free to sprinkle in some red pepper flakes. It adds a nice zing!
- And if your sauce seems too thick, just give it a splash of chicken broth to loosen it up. But if it turns out a bit too thin, don’t hesitate to toss in some extra Parmesan cheese. It’ll thicken things up and add a delicious, cheesy flavor! Enjoy your cooking!
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