Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta (Easy 30-Minute Dinner!)

Introduction

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is the answer when you crave a filling, restaurant-style meal without the hassle. Succulent bites of chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and a luscious garlic parmesan sauce come together in just 30 minutes, making it a family-friendly choice for busy weeknights. The harmony of savory garlic, rich parmesan, and plump pasta ensures this dish is as comforting as it is crave-worthy.

Deliciously Unique Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

The beauty of this pasta is in its balance: juicy, golden-seared chicken meets a velvety cream sauce bursting with fresh garlic and nutty parmesan. Each forkful delivers a blend of satisfying textures and flavors—an instant classic perfect for both novice cooks and seasoned chefs.

Crafting the Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce

The sauce is the heart of this recipe, combining minced garlic, heavy cream, parmesan, and a kiss of butter for irresistible flavor. The secret? Simmer the garlic in butter just long enough to turn fragrant, then blend with cream and parmesan so it thickens without curdling. Toss cooked pasta into the sauce immediately for the creamiest coating possible.

Assembling Your Chicken Pasta Dinner

While the sauce simmers, you’ll quickly pan-sear seasoned chicken breast pieces until golden and juicy. Adding them to the sauce and pasta not only combines all the flavors but allows the chicken to soak up garlicky, cheesy goodness. For a fresh finish, a sprinkle of parsley or cracked black pepper is the perfect touch.

Serving Suggestions for a Show-Stopping Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

This pasta shines as a main course with a crisp green salad and warm, crusty bread. Garnish plates with shaved parmesan and chopped parsley for an inviting presentation. Pair with sparkling water, a light white wine, or freshly squeezed lemonade for a simple, elegant dinner.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 4 generous servings. Each serving contains approximately 550-650 calories, depending on your choice of cream and cheese. Balanced with a side of vegetables, it creates a well-rounded and comforting meal.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate a smart shopping list with all ingredients—grouped by store section for efficient grocery trips and seamless meal planning.

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.
4. Lower the heat to medium. In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute (do not brown).
5. Pour in the heavy cream, stirring to scrape up browned bits from the pan. Allow to simmer lightly for 2-3 minutes.
6. Gradually whisk in the parmesan cheese until smooth and thickened. If needed, adjust consistency with reserved pasta water.
7. Add the drained pasta and cooked chicken to the skillet. Toss everything until well coated and heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
8. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley and extra parmesan, if desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

Add this Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta to your weekly meal rotation and keep dinners stress-free! Save and schedule this recipe to generate a meal plan, automatically calculate total ingredient needs, and create consolidated shopping lists—so you never miss an item.

Planning Benefits:

• Consolidates similar ingredients from multiple recipes for streamlined shopping
• Organizes items by grocery store aisle
• Prevents duplicate purchases and forgotten items
• Makes meal prep easier and reduces food waste

Pro tip: When planning several meals, schedule your recipes to see ingredient overlap—neatly calculate exactly how much parmesan or chicken you need for the week, eliminating excess and stress.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta will make any dinner feel special—with minimal effort and maximum flavor satisfaction!