Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta (Easy 30-Minute Dinner!)

Introduction

When you need a comforting dinner that’s both effortlessly creamy and packed with flavor, this Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta delivers in every bite. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you want to impress guests with minimal fuss, this recipe offers restaurant-quality taste with pantry-friendly ingredients, all ready in just 30 minutes.

Flavorful, Irresistible Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

What makes this pasta a weeknight superstar is its rich, cheesy sauce—crafted from fresh garlic, real Parmesan, and just the right amount of cream. Combined with tender, golden-seared chicken and perfectly cooked pasta, every forkful feels decadent (without hours in the kitchen). It’s quick, satisfying, and sure to become a household staple.

Perfecting the Creamy Parmesan Sauce

The secret to a luscious sauce is slow-sautéing garlic in butter, then stirring in cream and real grated Parmesan until it melts into silky perfection. A splash of pasta water gives the sauce that coveted cling. For even more depth, add a pinch of Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes to taste. Simmer for a minute, and your sauce is ready to envelop the pasta and chicken.

Chicken Preparation Tips

Slice your chicken breasts thin for fast, even cooking. Season well with salt, pepper, and any favorite Italian herbs, then sauté in olive oil until browned and cooked through. A quick rest before slicing ensures every bite stays juicy—a must for a crave-worthy pasta.

Serving Suggestions for a Restaurant-Quality Dinner

Garnish your pasta with extra Parmesan, a shower of chopped parsley, and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve with a crisp green salad or garlic bread for a complete meal that’s as great for family dinners as it is for entertaining guests. It’s a creamy classic everyone will request again and again.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 generous servings. Each serving contains approximately 550–620 calories, depending on cheese and cream amounts used. With protein, calcium, and comforting carbs, it’s a well-rounded meal for any night of the week.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions in salted water. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. While the pasta cooks, season chicken breasts with salt, black pepper, and optional Italian seasoning.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove from skillet, let rest for a few minutes, then slice.
4. In the same skillet, lower heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic; sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant (don’t let it brown).
5. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese until fully melted and creamy. Add reserved pasta water until the sauce is loose yet luxurious. Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
6. Add cooked pasta and sliced chicken to the skillet, tossing to coat in the sauce. Heat until everything is warmed through.
7. Plate and garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan as desired. Serve immediately.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is perfect for meal prepping or organizing weeknight menus. Save and schedule this recipe in CookifyAI to plan exactly when you’ll make it and instantly generate a smart shopping list that covers all your week’s recipes.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient needs across multiple meals
• Keeps your shopping list organized by grocery store section
• Helps prevent duplicate purchases and ensures nothing is forgotten
• Streamlines meal prep for efficient, stress-free weeks

Pro tip: Schedule recipes back-to-back to let overlapping ingredients (like Parmesan and cream) carry over, cutting down on both shopping time and food waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Enjoy this creamy, crowd-pleasing pasta dish—fast enough for busy weeknights and luscious enough for any special gathering!