Description
A creamy and flavorful pasta dish that combines tender chicken with a rich sauce, perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces pasta of your choice (e.g., penne or fettuccine)
- 1 pound boneless and 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 for a lighter option)
- 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 pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the remaining butter, minced garlic, and diced onion. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until the onions are translucent.
- Add the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine. Incorporate Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, then let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Return the cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet, mixing everything together thoroughly. Adjust seasoning if necessary and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Before serving, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy warm!
Notes
For a lighter version, you can substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or low-fat Greek yogurt. This dish can also be made ahead of time and reheated for meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: pasta, chicken, creamy, quick dinner, weeknight meal