Description
Pasta lovers will adore this creamy garlic parmesan pasta, bringing Italian comfort straight to dinner tables. Rich parmesan and velvety sauce combine for a quick, luxurious meal that promises restaurant-quality flavor in mere minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) fettuccine or your choice of pasta
- 1 pound (454 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Sauce Ingredients:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Submerge pasta and cook until perfectly tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Carefully drain and reserve.
- Season chicken breasts with salt and freshly ground pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium temperature. Cook chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165F, ensuring complete doneness. Transfer to cutting board and allow brief resting period.
- In the identical skillet, sauté minced garlic for 60 seconds until aromatic. Pour chicken broth and heavy cream, gently blending ingredients. Allow mixture to simmer, then reduce heat to low.
- Gradually incorporate Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning, whisking continuously until cheese melts completely. Create smooth, velvety consistency. Season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- Fold cooked pasta and thinly sliced chicken into sauce, ensuring thorough coating. Gently toss until every morsel is enveloped in creamy sauce.
- Optional: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley for vibrant color and enhanced flavor. Serve immediately while sauce remains warm and luxurious.
Notes
- Choose short pasta shapes like penne or fusilli to help sauce cling better and create perfect bite-sized morsels.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for richer, more authentic flavor compared to pre-packaged versions.
- Allow chicken to rest after cooking to retain maximum moisture and prevent dry, tough meat.
- Lower heat when adding cheese to prevent sauce from breaking or becoming grainy.
- For lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt to reduce calories.
- Create vegetarian option by replacing chicken with roasted vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, or mushrooms.
- Enhance protein content by adding white beans or grilled tofu as meat alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 840
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 52 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg