Description
One-pot creamy garlic chicken pasta weaves Italian comfort with weeknight convenience, delivering rich flavors in minutes. Parmesan-kissed noodles and tender chicken create a simple yet luxurious meal you can savor without complicated kitchen work.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 3 boneless thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces
Pasta and Dairy:
- 8 ounces (225 grams) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or linguine)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1.5 cups milk
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 0.5 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Sear the chicken pieces in a spacious skillet with heated olive oil, coating each morsel with a robust blend of aromatic seasonings. Develop a golden-brown exterior while ensuring complete internal cooking. Transfer the succulent protein to a waiting plate.
- In the identical culinary vessel, transform butter into a silky base, introducing minced garlic to release its intense fragrance. Create a luxurious liquid foundation by incorporating chicken broth, velvety heavy cream, and smooth milk, whisking until harmoniously integrated.
- Gently cascade uncooked pasta directly into the simmering liquid landscape, allowing each strand to nestle and absorb the rich surrounding flavors. Periodically stir to prevent unwanted adhesion, monitoring until pasta reaches perfect al dente tenderness.
- Reduce heat and sprinkle Parmesan cheese, stirring until a creamy consistency emerges. Reintroduce the previously prepared chicken, folding gently to distribute ingredients evenly. Fine-tune flavor profile with additional seasonings as desired.
- Elegantly crown the dish with freshly chopped parsley, creating a vibrant visual and aromatic finish. Serve immediately while maintaining optimal temperature and texture.
Notes
- Swap chicken for tofu or plant-based protein to create a vegetarian version that maintains the creamy, rich texture of the original dish.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe completely gluten-free without compromising on taste or texture.
- Reduce heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk for a lighter, lower-fat alternative that still provides amazing creaminess.
- Select firm pasta shapes like penne or rotini to help capture more sauce and prevent potential mushiness during one-pot cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 150mg