Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta

This creamy garlic chicken pasta is comfort food at its best! Loaded with tender bits of chicken and a heavenly creamy sauce made with loads of garlic and freshly grated Parmesan, this pasta dish is a proper treat and is ready in just 25 minutes!

If you've been looking for a delicious pasta dish for a weeknight treat that's super easy to whip up with just a handful of ingredients, this creamy garlic chicken pasta definitely fits the bill.

Since it's creamy and rich, this garlic chicken pasta is one of those "not-so-skinny" recipes that I sometimes create without absolutely any guilt at all. Yes, it's that good - so no regrets here.

The creamy garlic sauce could technically be made with half and half (single cream), but the result would be a thinner, runnier sauce.

If you love garlic as much as I do, this sauce is bound to become an absolute favorite!

Why you'll love this creamy garlic chicken pasta

• It's difficult to describe in words just how delicious the creamy garlic sauce is - you really have to try it and see for yourself.
• You can have a bowl of this luxurious creamy garlic chicken pasta on the table in just 25 minutes.
• The sauce is made with basic ingredients that you may already have in the fridge.

What goes into this garlic creamy chicken pasta

Olive oil + butter - By frying the chicken into a mix of olive oil and butter, you get the high burning point of the olive oil plus some extra creaminess from the butter.

Chicken breast - I like to use lean chicken breast in virtually all my chicken pasta recipes.

However, if you prefer darker meat, you can use skinless chicken thighs. Rotisserie chicken is also a good idea, or you can try it with my air fryer chicken bites.

Shallot - If you love to use shallots in this type of pasta sauce because they cook quicker than onions and have a mellow flavor.

However, you can use half a yellow or red onion here. Just make sure you dice it finely, so it cooks quickly.

Garlic - The star of the show! This is a creamy garlic chicken penne recipe, after all, so you'll need lots of it.

I mince four or five plump cloves for this sauce but feel free to add more!

I don't recommend using garlic powder because the flavor is just not the same.

Italian seasoning - I always have a jar of Italian seasoning mix, so I can easily infuse flavor in sauces such as this.

A mix of dried oregano and dried basil also works here.

White wine - Any dry white wine works for deglazing the pan when making this sauce.

If you don't cook with wine, use some low-sodium chicken stock instead.

Cream - Heavy cream (double cream) makes this sauce extra creamy and luscious. You can also use a mix of cream and cream cheese.

Pasta - I used penne pasta in this sauce, but any other type of short or long pasta would do.

Parmesan - Buying a wedge of Parmesan cheese and grating it yourself is a total game changer if you love pasta dishes. Ready-grated Parmesan just won't have the same flavor.

How to make creamy garlic pasta with chicken

Bring a large pot of pasta to a boil, salt it and cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve a couple of cups of pasta water before draining.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pan or heavy-bottomed pot and melt the butter in it.

Add the chicken breast and cook for 5-6 minutes over medium heat or until cooked to your liking.

Stir in the shallot and cook for 1 minute, then add the garlic and cook for 30 more seconds.

Next, stir in the Italian seasoning, then deglaze the pot with the dry white wine and cook for 1-2 minutes until the alcohol evaporates.

Stir in the cream and cook for 1-2 minutes or until the sauce thickens, then add the cooked pasta and toss well to cover in sauce. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water if it looks too thick.

Add the grated Parmesan and fresh parsley, stir to combine, then season to taste and serve immediately.

Recipe notes and tips

• Add some baby spinach at the end for a plus of brightness and vitamins.
• Don't forget to reserve water from cooking the pasta. The starch in it is essential for keeping the sauce creamy.
• Make this creamy garlic chicken pasta recipe even richer by adding some bacon.
• This pasta dish is best served immediately. If you have any leftovers, reheat them in the microwave. The texture of the cream sauce will be different, though.

If you liked this creamy garlic chicken pasta, you might also like some of my other quick and easy pasta recipes:

• Creamy Rasta Pasta Recipe
• Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
• Rigatoni Fiorentina (Creamy Chicken Florentine Pasta)
• Creamy Chicken and Chorizo Pasta
• Creamy Tuna and Mushroom Pasta

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