Description
Tender garlic butter chicken bites paired with creamy Parmesan pasta create an easy, flavorful one-pan dinner. This rich and buttery meal, loaded with garlic and Italian seasonings, comes together in under 40 minutes, delivering a restaurant-quality experience at home.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
Creamy Parmesan Pasta
- 12 oz fettuccine or linguine
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Season the chicken: In a bowl, season the bite-sized chicken pieces with Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper, ensuring they are evenly coated.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 6–8 minutes or until golden brown and fully cooked through.
- Add garlic to chicken: Stir in the minced garlic to the chicken and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, then remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce: In another skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant but not browned.
- Simmer cream: Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
- Add Parmesan and seasonings: Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning until the sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss pasta in sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the cream sauce. Toss well to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a silky consistency.
- Serve: Plate the creamy Parmesan pasta and top with the garlic butter chicken bites. Garnish with extra parsley and Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Add spinach, mushrooms, or broccoli to the pasta for extra vegetables and nutrition.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a smoother, creamier sauce compared to pre-shredded varieties.
- Garnish with extra chopped parsley and Parmesan cheese before serving for enhanced flavor and presentation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
