Description
A quick and delicious dinner featuring tender garlic butter chicken bites served with creamy Parmesan pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups uncooked pasta (penne or fettuccine)
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and add the butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat in the creamy sauce. Add the cooked pasta and mix until everything is well combined.
- Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and use whole wheat pasta.
- Add vegetables like spinach, cherry tomatoes, or broccoli for extra nutrition and flavor. Sauté them with the garlic before adding the cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg