Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
A rich, restaurant-worthy pasta that comes together in under 30 minutes. Tender chicken, al dente pasta, and a velvety garlic cream sauce.
Instructions
Cook the pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
Salt your pasta water generously — it should taste like the sea.
Season and sear the chicken
Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken until golden on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
Don't move the chicken while it sears — let it develop a golden crust.
Build the garlic base
In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant — don't let it burn.
Create the cream sauce
Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Add grated parmesan cheese and stir until melted and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add pasta water a splash at a time.
Adding pasta water helps the sauce cling to the noodles perfectly.
Combine everything
Return the chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together until evenly coated. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Plate and serve
Divide among plates. Garnish with fresh parsley and an extra sprinkle of parmesan. Serve immediately while hot.
A crack of fresh black pepper on top elevates the whole dish.
People Also Ask
Reviews
This was absolutely incredible. Made it for date night and my partner was blown away. The garlic cream sauce is to die for.
Simple, fast, and restaurant-quality. I added some sun-dried tomatoes and it was even better!
Really good but I'd use a bit less cream next time. The flavor was perfect though.
Made this three times already. My new go-to weeknight dinner. The kids love it too!
Great recipe! Substituted the heavy cream with half-and-half and it still worked beautifully.
Ingredients
Nutrition Facts
Per serving
Approximate values based on standard ingredients
