Description
A rich and comforting Creamy Parmesan Pasta paired with flavorful garlic butter chicken bites. This dish features tender chicken cubes sautéed in garlic butter and Italian seasoning, combined with al dente pasta tossed in a luscious homemade Parmesan cream sauce. Perfect as a satisfying weeknight dinner for four.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Bites
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Pasta and Sauce
- 12 oz pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (or reserved pasta water)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Make the garlic butter chicken: While the pasta cooks, heat 3 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken cubes and season with dried Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
- Add garlic to chicken: Add the minced garlic to the skillet with the chicken and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the creamy Parmesan sauce: In the same skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, stirring frequently.
- Add liquids and simmer: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth (or reserved pasta water), stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Incorporate Parmesan cheese: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Continue stirring until the cheese melts completely and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the creamy Parmesan sauce, tossing thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water to achieve the desired consistency.
- Add chicken back to skillet: Return the garlic butter chicken bites to the skillet and toss everything together to combine the flavors evenly.
- Serve: Garnish the creamy Parmesan pasta and garlic butter chicken bites with freshly chopped parsley, and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency, making it thinner or thicker as preferred.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and melting performance.
- You can substitute chicken broth with pasta water for a more neutral, lighter sauce.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes while cooking garlic in the sauce.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
