This creamy garlic chicken pasta makes the perfect weeknight meal. Quick and easy comfort food you will find irresistible.
Tender cubed chicken breast is pan-fried with simple pantry ingredients, then generously smothered in a luscious creamy garlic sauce before being tossed with penne pasta. This recipe is for you when you need some serious comfort food.
Easy creamy garlic chicken pasta recipe
Are you looking for an easy pasta dinner idea that gives a sense of comfort and warmth? Then this recipe is for you. It is comfort food at its best.
Feed your family with this comforting and economical meal. It is family-friendly, and more importantly, the creamy garlic sauce in this dish is just perfect and not overpowering, making it ideal even for your pickiest eater. They will savor every bite of this delicious meal.
Related recipes: creamy garlic chicken, stovetop garlic chicken thighs, and creamy cajun chicken.
Why you will love this recipe
- Restaurant quality meal cooked at home: This creamy garlic chicken pasta epitomizes comfort food. It is rich, creamy, and flavorful, just like a dish you would find at your favorite restaurant.
- Versatile: This dish can be easily customized to suit different tastes and preferences. If you're a garlic lover, feel free to use more than the recommended amount in this recipe. Alternatively, you can adjust the garlic to suit your personal taste preferences. While two tablespoons of freshly chopped garlic might seem like a lot to some, I assure you it won't overpower the dish. Instead, it adds a delightful flavor that complements the overall taste without leaving you with garlic breath.
- Easy and quick to make: Just like many recipes on 'The Dinner Bite' website, this creamy garlic chicken pasta calls for simple pantry and fridge ingredients. You can have a delicious home-cooked meal on the table in under 30 minutes.
What you will need
Boneless skinless chicken breast: Substitute with boneless skinless chicken thighs.
Penne pasta: use any other pasta shape of your choice.
Garlic: Fresh garlic all the way here. The flavors from the fresh garlic can't be compared to the powdered form. If you would like less garlicky sauce, then substitute fresh garlic for roasted garlic.
Baby spinach
Heavy cream
Unsalted butter
Olive oil
Onion powder
Smoked paprika
Italian seasoning: Substitute with any other dried herbs of your choice.
Parmesan cheese: Grated off the block, you will get more flavor from this than the pre-packed grated options.
Salt and ground black pepper
Fresh parsley: To garnish.
Low-sodium chicken stock
How to make creamy garlic pasta
Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, following the instructions on the package. Before draining, set aside 1 cup or more of the precious pasta water for later use.
Heat olive oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. Once it is hot and shimmering, add cubed chicken breast, followed by smoked paprika, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Then, cook while stirring occasionally until the chicken is cooked through.
Next, add unsalted butter, stir around the pan until melted, add in chopped garlic and let it cook for 30 seconds. You do not want to burn the garlic.
Add in chicken stock and heavy cream and stir to combine. Next, add the grated parmesan cheese and stir continuously until fully melted.
Add baby spinach to creamy garlic sauce and cook until wilted. Simmer for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.
Finally, add cooked and drained penne pasta to the creamy sauce and stir until the pasta is well-coated. Take it off the heat and serve it as it is or with garlic bread, salad, or Texas toast. Enjoy.
Tips
- Use other types of vegetables apart from spinach. Vegetables such as kale, mushroom, green beans, bell peppers, and many more will make this pasta more nutritious.
- Add some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to spice things up if you want more heat in this sauce.
- If you do not have heavy cream on hand, replace it with half and half or whipping cream. Your sauce will be a bit thinner but still creamy.
- Bring the heavy cream to room temperature before adding it to the sauce so it doesn't separate or curdle.
How to store
Store leftover creamy garlic chicken pasta in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. This dish is not recommended for freezing.
Watch how to make it
More creamy pasta recipes
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Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast cubed into bite sizes
- ½ lb penne pasta
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 2 Tablespoons garlic finely chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup low-sodium chicken stock or as needed
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley To garnish.
- pasta water
Instructions
- Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, following the instructions on the package. Before draining, set aside 1 cup or more of the precious pasta water for later use.½ lb penne pasta
- Heat olive oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. Once it is hot and shimmering, add cubed chicken breast, followed by smoked paprika, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Then, cook while stirring occasionally until the chicken is cooked through.1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, Salt and ground black pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Next, add unsalted butter, stir around the pan until melted, add in chopped garlic and let it cook for 30 seconds. You do not want to burn the garlic.2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 Tablespoons garlic finely chopped
- Add in chicken stock and heavy cream and stir to combine. Next, add the grated parmesan cheese and stir continuously until fully melted.1 cup heavy cream, ⅓ cup low-sodium chicken stock, ½ cup parmesan cheese
- Add baby spinach to creamy garlic sauce and cook until wilted. Simmer for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.4 cups baby spinach
- Finally, add cooked and drained penne pasta to the creamy sauce and stir until the pasta is well-coated. Add reserved pasta water to the sauce if it is becoming thick, us according to your preference or the desired consistency. Take it off the heat. Serve it as it is or with garlic bread, salad, or Texas toast. Enjoy.pasta water, Fresh parsley
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
And there you have it, a simple and delicious pasta recipe you can make at home in 30 minutes. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 stars and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox.
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