Description
A quick and comforting pasta dish featuring buttery chicken bites and a silky cream sauce, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces pasta (penne, fettuccine, or your favorite)
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup heavy cream (or coconut milk)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook to al dente (check the package, usually 8–10 minutes). Before draining, scoop out 1 cup of the pasta water and set aside. Drain pasta.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then add to the pan. Cook 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate.
- In the same skillet, add remaining butter. Sauté the diced onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook 30–45 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Stir in Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer gently for about 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Return chicken and drained pasta to the skillet. Toss until everything is coated and warmed through. Cook another 1–2 minutes to meld flavors.
- Remove from heat, sprinkle in grated Parmesan, and stir until melted and silky. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Swap rotisserie chicken for a shortcut if you’re short on time. Use low-sodium broth to control salt. If using packaged Parmesan, taste before salting to avoid over-salting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: pasta, chicken, creamy sauce, quick dinner, butter chicken