Description
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta is a delicious and easy-to-make dish featuring tender chicken breast bites cooked in rich garlic butter, tossed with al dente pasta and coated in a luscious creamy Parmesan sauce. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner that feels decadent yet straightforward to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast, diced
- 4 tablespoons butter (divided)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Pasta
- 8 ounces pasta (fettuccine or penne)
Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Start by boiling water in a medium pot. Once boiling, add a pinch of salt and the pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the chicken: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the diced chicken and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
- Sauté garlic: Reduce the heat to low and add the minced garlic to the skillet with the chicken. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent the garlic from burning and to infuse the butter with garlic flavor.
- Prepare the sauce: Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, heavy cream, and garlic powder. Stir well to combine and bring to a gentle simmer over low heat.
- Add Parmesan cheese: Gradually add the grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce, stirring constantly until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce becomes creamy and smooth. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.
- Combine pasta and chicken: Add the cooked pasta and chicken back into the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are thoroughly coated with the creamy Parmesan sauce.
- Serve and garnish: Remove from heat and garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- For best flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese instead of pre-grated.
- If you prefer lower fat, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, though the sauce will be less rich.
- You can add vegetables such as spinach or mushrooms for extra nutrition and texture.
- Ensure not to burn the garlic when cooking as it can turn bitter.
- Use gluten-free pasta if you need to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing and Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: thirty-five g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Keywords: Garlic butter chicken, creamy parmesan pasta, garlic chicken bites, quick pasta recipe, easy dinner ideas, chicken pasta skillet