Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta with Cream Sauce
Follow this recipe to make a rich, flavorful chicken pasta dish featuring a smooth garlic butter cream sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound fettuccine or linguine pasta
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
- Season the chicken pieces with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
- Heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
- Pour in the white wine or broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let it simmer for 2 minutes until reduced slightly.
- Stir in the heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth. Season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
- Add the cooked chicken and the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything to coat evenly with the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Stir in the fresh parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra flavor, use garlic powder along with fresh garlic.
- You can substitute Gruyère cheese for some of the Parmesan for a nuttier flavor.
- Add 1 cup of steamed broccoli florets or sautéed mushrooms with the chicken for vegetables.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 40
- Saturated Fat: 22
- Unsaturated Fat: 18
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 45
- Cholesterol: 180