Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta (Printer-friendly)
Tender chicken and pasta in a rich, creamy garlic-Parmesan sauce finished with fresh herbs.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Pasta
06 - 12 oz fettuccine or penne pasta
→ Sauce
07 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
08 - 5 cloves garlic minced
09 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
10 - 1 2/3 cups whole milk
11 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
12 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg optional
14 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Garnish
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
16 - Extra grated Parmesan for serving
# How To Make It:
01 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
02 - Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and dried Italian herbs.
03 - Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 5-7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Transfer to plate and set aside.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. Melt butter and add minced garlic. Sauté 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
05 - Sprinkle flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute to form roux.
06 - Gradually whisk in milk and heavy cream until smooth and slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes.
07 - Stir in grated Parmesan and nutmeg. Continue stirring until cheese melts and sauce becomes creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
08 - Return chicken to skillet, then add drained pasta. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach silky consistency.
09 - Remove from heat. Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce comes together in about 10 minutes but tastes like it simmered for hours
- Perfect for those nights when you need comfort food but want something a little elevated
- The leftovers somehow taste even better the next day
02 -
- Reserving pasta water is not optional here, as the starch helps bind everything together
- The sauce thickens rapidly off the heat, so remove it a minute before it looks perfect
- Grating your own Parmesan makes a noticeable difference in how smoothly the sauce incorporates
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients prevent the sauce from breaking when you add the cheese
- Grate the Parmesan off the heat and stir it in quickly for the smoothest results