Description
Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Pasta is a comforting and creamy one-pan dish featuring tender seasoned chicken breast cooked to perfection and combined with penne pasta in a rich garlic parmesan sauce. This easy recipe can be made in about 35 minutes, perfect for a flavorful weeknight dinner that feels restaurant-quality.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 tbsp avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast (butterflied or beaten down to about ½" thickness)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
Sauce and Pasta
- 1 tbsp avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ jumbo yellow onion (diced, about 1 cup)
- 4-6 large cloves garlic (minced)
- 8 oz dry penne pasta (normal, gluten free, or protein pasta)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, mix together the Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Pat the chicken dry and rub both sides with the seasoning mixture to evenly coat.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat a large pan over medium heat and add the avocado oil. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 5 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside to rest.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Reduce heat to medium-low, add more avocado oil and butter to the pan. Add the diced onion seasoned lightly with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes until tender and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute, stirring constantly so garlic doesn’t burn.
- Deglaze and Cook Pasta: Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pan to lift any browned bits. Bring the broth to a light boil. Add the dry penne pasta, ensuring it’s submerged in the broth, then cover the pan and cook for 10 minutes until pasta is al dente.
- Make the Sauce: Turn off the heat. Stir in the grated parmesan cheese, heavy cream, and chopped parsley. Mix until the parmesan melts and the sauce thickens slightly. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine and Serve: Slice the cooked chicken into strips and add it back into the pan with the pasta. Toss everything to combine evenly, then serve warm and enjoy your creamy garlic parmesan chicken and pasta!
Notes
- This dish is made in one pan for easy cleanup and minimal effort.
- Butterflied or evenly thin chicken breasts ensure quick and even cooking.
- You can use gluten-free or protein pasta to suit dietary preferences.
- Adjust seasoning to your taste before serving, especially salt and pepper.
- Heavy cream can be substituted with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, though it may be less rich.
- Use fresh minced garlic for best flavor, but garlic powder can work in a pinch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 665 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1021 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 138 mg
