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This creamy garlic chicken pasta recipe is simple to make, uses everyday ingredients, and tastes like restaurant comfort food! It’s ready in about 30 minutes.
It’s based on my iconic Creamy Garlic Chicken and Creamy Garlic Pork Chops recipes.
Why you’ll love it
This garlic chicken pasta is absolutely perfect for a weeknight treat since it’s really quick, but it’s also something that you can pull out of your back pocket when you’ve got company or want to make something memorable for date night at home!
I love a simple cream sauce for pasta, and this one is over-the-top delicious with all the garlic, parmesan, and luxurious cream. Brighten it up with a touch of lemon, and you’ve got a winning dish. When I think of cozy pasta, this chicken pasta definitely fits.
What you’ll need
- Pasta – I chose spaghetti, but any pasta shape will work just fine
- Chicken – we’re cutting chicken breasts in half lengthwise so that it cooks even faster
- Garlic powder – adding it to the chicken cutlets along with salt & pepper immediately gives that garlic essence
- Olive oil and butter – classic combo for sautéing aromatics
- Garlic cloves – the star of the dish. We’re using both garlic powder and minced garlic cloves to infuse even more garlicky flavor
- Flour – to thicken the sauce
- Chicken broth – you could use a dry white wine instead
- Lemon juice – to balance the creamy element and add a vibrant touch
- Cream – a bit of heavy cream pulls the luscious sauce together!
- Parmesan cheese – the crown jewel to top it all off. Always use fresh parm as opposed to the stuff in a bag.
How to make creamy garlic pasta
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Boil the pasta. Meanwhile, cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise and sprinkle them with the garlic powder and some salt & pepper. In a skillet, cook the chicken until golden and cooked through, then transfer to a plate. Make a quick roux, then whisk in the broth and lemon juice, followed by the cream.
Once the sauce has thickened a bit, stir in the parmesan cheese. Cut the chicken into strips and add it to the sauce along with the drained pasta, then toss!
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- Chicken is cooked when an instant read thermometer indicates it’s 165F in the thickest part. It’s the safest and most reliable way to tell if chicken is done or not, and you’re less likely to overcook it this way too!
- This is the skillet I use.
- I recommend grating your own parmesan cheese for best results. I use my Microplane to easily grate it.
Substitutions and variations
- You could throw in a handful of fresh spinach towards the end if you want to add some greens.
- If using wine instead of chicken broth, go for something dry like sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, or even chardonnay.
- Try swapping the chicken breasts for chicken thighs if you prefer. I’d cook them a little longer to ensure that they’re nice and tender.
- I don’t recommend subbing the heavy cream for a lower fat alternative as it can affect the taste and texture of the sauce. It’ll likely end up thinner than intended and may even curdle. You could probably get away with using half-and-half, but you may need to add a little more flour.
What to serve with garlic chicken pasta
- Try a side salad. Either make something lighter such as a green salad with homemade Creamy Balsamic Dressing, Ranch Dressing, or go all out and make a Caesar salad with my 10-minute Caesar Dressing and these Garlic Parmesan Croutons!
- Garlic Bread or a slice of crusty bread would work great as well.
Leftovers and storage
- Store this pasta in the fridge for 3-4 days after making it in a covered container.
- It’s best to reheat it in a small saucepan over a low heat, stirring every so often, so the sauce doesn’t separate.
- I wouldn’t recommend freezing leftovers because of the dairy.
More easy chicken pasta recipes
If you made this garlic parmesan chicken pasta, please leave a star rating and review below! You can also tag me on Instagram to showcase any S&L recipe you made.
Easy Garlic Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
- 2 chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter divided
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or dry white wine
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Boil a salted pot of water and cook pasta al dente according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise so you have 4 thinner pieces. Sprinkle them with the garlic powder and some salt & pepper.
- Add the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. Let the pan heat up for a few minutes. Cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes/side or until golden and cooked through (165F). Transfer to a plate.
- To the same skillet, add the remaining butter. Once it melts, stir in the garlic and flour and cook for 30 seconds or so.
- Whisk in the chicken broth and lemon juice (and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet). Let it bubble for about a minute.
- Add in the cream and let it cook for another 4-5 minutes or so until it thickens up a bit (turn down the heat if it starts bubbling like crazy).
- Meanwhile, cut up the cooked chicken into bite-size pieces.
- Stir the parmesan into the sauce.
- Add the chicken and the drained pasta to the skillet and toss until coated (I add a tablespoon or so of the pasta water to the sauce prior to draining it, especially if it's become a tad too thick). Serve immediately with extra salt & pepper if needed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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It was SO good! I did change it up a bit. I used skinless boneless chicken thighs. I also added spinach and sun dried tomatoes! Thanks for sharing
I’m so glad you liked it! You’re very welcome, Nikki!
Another winner! Have made a lot of your dishes and they never fail to please.
That makes me so happy, Lee!! Thank you!! 😀
This dish was delicious, I would definitely make this again
Great!! Thank you, Bev!
It’s a delicious meal, but it took me longer then 30 minutes to prepare. Is that an accurate prep time?
Hi Nate! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Everyone goes at a different pace, so unfortunately it’s impossible to be accurate for everyone with the prep time. I tend to go faster than most and usually prep as I go. I add on a little more time to account for that.
Can this be frozen and reheated? Guess I’ll be trying that this week. It looks so incredibly yummy!
Hi! See “leftovers & storage” in the blog post. This isn’t my favorite to freeze, but I hope you’ll give it a try. 🙂
Quick, easy, and so delicious! Made with pappardelle and some sundried tomatoes. Perfect date night dinner!
Wonderful! Thanks, Dana!
I didn’t alter the recipe at all, and my husband, my mother, and I all agreed that this dish was one of my best meals ever! Absolutely fabulous! Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
That’s wonderful to hear!! 😀 Thanks, Laurie!
This was great – added shrooms and used leftover spaghetti from fridge. Chicken was more tender than other recipes – not cutting it up first really does the trick! Thanks for this recipe!
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You are very welcome!! 😀 Glad you enjoyed it, and I appreciate your review, Nancy!
my absolute fav dish to make!! so easy and delicious
Yaaay! 😀 Glad to hear it!
I added to the sauce a bit of leftover mushroom truffle soup, some bacon, black olives, and kale. The mushrooms truffle overpowered the delicious chicken lemony flavor but still delicious 😋