Description
This Creamy Italian Chicken Pasta is a rich and satisfying dish combining tender seared chicken breasts with a luscious Parmesan cream sauce tossed with fettuccine. Flavored with garlic, Italian seasoning, and a hint of crushed red pepper flakes, it’s a perfect weeknight meal or dinner party option that is both comforting and flavorful.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Pasta and Garnish
- 8 ounces fettuccine or linguine pasta
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook until golden brown and fully cooked through, about 6-7 minutes per side depending on thickness. Remove from skillet and slice once rested.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add fettuccine or linguine and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve half a cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Prepare the sauce base: In the same skillet used for chicken, melt the butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute, taking care not to burn it.
- Simmer the cream: Pour in the heavy cream and let it simmer gently on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Incorporate Parmesan: Gradually whisk in grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce becomes creamy and thickens to a smooth consistency.
- Toss pasta in sauce: Add the drained pasta to the cream sauce and toss well to coat evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen it to desired consistency.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the sliced chicken to the skillet with the pasta and sauce. Let everything simmer together for 2 to 3 minutes so flavors meld and chicken reheats.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley or basil over the top and serve the creamy Italian chicken pasta immediately while hot.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a smoother sauce and better flavor.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, though it will be less rich.
- For extra heat, do not omit the crushed red pepper flakes or add more to taste.
- Reserve some pasta water as the starch helps to bind and loosen the sauce perfectly.
- Allow chicken to rest after cooking before slicing to keep it juicy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Creamy Italian Chicken Pasta, chicken pasta recipe, Parmesan chicken pasta, easy Italian dinner, creamy pasta sauce
