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The Ultimate Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe

Are you on the hunt for a mid-week dinner that tastes like a weekend indulgence but comes together in no time at all? A meal that feels like a warm, comforting embrace and has the whole family asking for more? We understand that search perfectly. Finding a dish that is both quick and deeply satisfying can feel like a constant challenge. That’s precisely why we’ve poured our efforts into perfecting this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta. It is the definitive answer to your dinnertime queries—a rich, creamy, and wonderfully delicious meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes, making it the ideal easy chicken pasta dinner.

This is far more than just another pasta recipe; it’s a tribute to simple yet powerful flavours. Succulent, golden-brown chicken is lovingly tossed with perfectly cooked pasta, all enveloped in a velvety, luxurious sauce that bursts with savoury garlic and the sharp, nutty notes of Parmesan cheese. It is the essence of comfort food, and we are delighted to show you exactly how to bring it to life in your own kitchen.

Why You’ll Adore This Recipe

Ready in Under 30 Minutes: We created this recipe with busy schedules in mind. From the moment you start to the minute it’s served, you can have this spectacular meal on the table faster than it takes to watch an episode of your favourite programme.
Restaurant-Quality Flavour at Home: There’s no need to eat out when you can whip up a dish this decadent yourself. The beautiful marriage of garlic, cream, and real Parmesan cheese results in a sauce that tastes as though it were crafted by a professional chef.
Simple, Everyday Ingredients: You won’t find any fussy or difficult-to-source ingredients here. In fact, you most likely have the essentials—chicken, pasta, garlic, cream, and Parmesan—waiting in your kitchen right now.
A Guaranteed Family Favourite: The creamy, cheesy, and well-balanced flavour profile makes it an undeniable hit with both youngsters and adults alike. It’s a dependable and delicious choice for any occasion.
Incredibly Versatile: This recipe serves as a fantastic foundation for your culinary creativity. You can easily add your favourite vegetables, a pinch of chilli for warmth, or even swap the chicken for prawns. We’ll share some of our preferred variations below!

Ingredients for Your Creamy Pasta Masterpiece

The true charm of this recipe is rooted in its simplicity. We rely on a small selection of quality components to deliver an incredible depth of flavour. Here’s what you’ll need to have ready:

Pasta: We are partial to using penne or fettuccine, as their shapes are perfect for holding onto the creamy sauce. Around 300g is an ideal quantity for four servings.
Chicken: You will need two large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 500g), diced into bite-sized pieces.
Olive Oil & Butter: A tablespoon of each is used for sautéing the chicken and forming the flavour base of the sauce. The combination adds a lovely taste and helps prevent the butter from browning too quickly.
Garlic: The undeniable star of our dish! We recommend 4–6 cloves, finely minced. Please feel free to adjust this quantity depending on your love for garlic.
Double Cream: This is the key to achieving a truly rich and creamy garlic chicken pasta. About 300ml will be required.
Chicken Broth: Roughly 120ml of chicken broth helps to thin the sauce to a perfect consistency while adding another savoury layer of flavour.
Parmesan Cheese: For the most exceptional results, use 100g of freshly grated Parmesan. It melts seamlessly into the sauce and provides an unparalleled nutty flavour.
Seasoning: Salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a teaspoon of Italian seasoning or dried oregano to taste.
Fresh Parsley: A handful of chopped fresh parsley, used as a garnish, introduces a wonderful touch of freshness and vibrant colour.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Putting this dish together is a wonderfully straightforward and satisfying experience. We have broken down the method into three easy-to-follow stages to ensure you achieve perfect results every time.

1. Prepare the Chicken and Pasta

Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pan of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your pasta and cook it according to the package instructions until it is *al dente* (still has a slight bite). Crucially, before you drain it, remember to save about 250ml (a mugful) of the starchy pasta water. This is our secret to creating the perfect sauce!
Season and Cook the Chicken: As the pasta cooks, pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel. Season them liberally with salt, pepper, and the Italian seasoning. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large, deep frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook for 5–7 minutes, turning them now and then, until they are beautifully golden-brown and cooked all the way through. Once ready, transfer the chicken from the pan to a plate and set it aside. If you fancy chicken with a zesty flair, you might also adore our Lemon Garlic Chicken recipe.

2. Create the Luscious Garlic Parmesan Sauce

Sauté the Garlic: Using the same pan, turn the heat down to medium-low. Add the minced garlic and cook for around 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant. Take care not to let it burn, as this would lend a bitter taste to your sauce.
Build the Creamy Base: Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, using a wooden spoon to scrape up all the tasty browned bits from the bottom. Allow it to simmer for a minute, then stir in the double cream.
Melt the Parmesan: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, but do not allow it to boil. Lower the heat and gradually add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until it has completely melted and the sauce is perfectly smooth. Season with a touch more salt and pepper if needed.

3. Bring It All Together

Combine and Coat: Return the drained pasta and the cooked chicken to the pan containing the sauce. Gently toss everything together until both the chicken and pasta are generously coated in that sublime garlic parmesan sauce.
Adjust Consistency: If the sauce appears a little too thick for your liking, simply add a small splash of the reserved pasta water. The starch in the water helps the sauce cling to the pasta beautifully without diluting the flavour. Continue to stir until you achieve your preferred consistency.
Garnish and Serve: Take the pan off the heat. Stir through the chopped fresh parsley and serve the dish straight away. We think it’s best enjoyed with an extra grating of Parmesan cheese at the table.

Top Tips for the Best Results

To help elevate your dish from wonderful to truly unforgettable, we suggest keeping these simple pointers in mind.

Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: We simply cannot overstate this! Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking powders which can stop it from melting smoothly, potentially leading to a grainy sauce. Grating your own from a block of Parmesan takes just a moment and makes an enormous difference in texture and flavour. For more on this, have a look at this insightful explanation from Bon Appétit.
Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Aiming for *al dente* is vital because the pasta will carry on cooking for a short while once it’s added to the hot sauce. This simple step ensures it remains firm and doesn’t become mushy.
Save That Pasta Water: This starchy liquid is pure gold. It acts as an emulsifier, helping the sauce bind to the pasta for a silky, rich finish that isn’t greasy.
Control the Heat: When you are making the sauce, be sure to never let the cream reach a rapid boil. High heat can cause it to curdle or separate. A gentle, low simmer is all that’s required.

Variations and Add-Ins

One of the most appealing aspects of this recipe is how wonderfully adaptable it is. Here are a few of our favourite ways to customise it.

Turn It into a Parmesan Chicken Pasta Bake

For an even more comforting twist, transfer the finished pasta into an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle a generous layer of mozzarella and extra Parmesan cheese over the top. Bake at 190°C (170°C fan) for 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and golden-brown. It’s the definition of cheesy indulgence!

Add Some Greens

Stir a couple of large handfuls of fresh spinach into the sauce right at the end, allowing it to wilt into the dish. Sautéed mushrooms, steamed broccoli florets, or sun-dried tomatoes also make for delicious additions. You can simply add them to the pan when you return the chicken.

Spice It Up

If you enjoy a little bit of warmth, add half a teaspoon of red chilli flakes to the pan at the same time as the garlic. This introduces a lovely, gentle heat that cuts through the richness of the cream sauce.

What to Serve with Your Pasta

This Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is certainly a satisfying meal all by itself, but if you wish to make it part of a larger spread, we suggest serving it with some crusty garlic bread to soak up every last bit of that incredible sauce. A simple side salad dressed with a light vinaigrette also provides a refreshing and pleasant contrast. For another brilliant Italian-inspired dinner idea, our Bruschetta Chicken is always a triumph.

FAQ

Q: Can I use pre-cooked or leftover chicken for this recipe?

A: Of course! This recipe is an excellent way to make use of leftover roast chicken. Just shred or chop the cooked chicken and add it to the sauce at the same time as the pasta to heat it through.

Q: How can I make this dish gluten-free?

A: It’s incredibly easy to adapt. Simply substitute the standard pasta with your preferred brand of gluten-free pasta and cook it as directed on the package. The other ingredients in the recipe are naturally free from gluten.

Q: My sauce is too thin or too thick. How can I fix it?

A: If your sauce is a little too thin, let it simmer gently over a low heat for a few extra minutes, which will allow it to reduce and thicken. If it has become too thick, just stir in a splash of your reserved pasta water (or a little milk or cream) until it reaches the consistency you desire.

Q: What’s the difference between this and a Chicken alfredo pasta?

A: The two are quite similar! A classic, traditional Alfredo sauce is made simply with butter, Parmesan, and pasta water. However, the modern, cream-based version is what most people are familiar with today. Our recipe is very much like a creamy Alfredo, but it is specifically designed to celebrate the bold flavour of garlic as a central element alongside the Parmesan.

Your New Go-To Weeknight Wonder

So there you have it—a simple, elegant, and deeply satisfying Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta recipe that we are certain will become a firm favourite in your meal rotation. It’s proof that you don’t need a great deal of time or complex ingredients to create a dinner that is truly memorable and delicious.

The next time you find yourself wondering what to cook for dinner, we hope you’ll give this recipe a try. We are confident that once you taste that rich, creamy, and garlicky sauce, you will be completely won over. We would be thrilled to see how yours turns out! If you make this dish, please do leave a comment and a rating below to let us know what you thought. Happy cooking!