Description
This Creamy Italian Chicken Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender seared chicken breasts tossed with al dente fettuccine in a rich, creamy Parmesan sauce infused with garlic and Italian seasoning. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, it combines simple ingredients to create a satisfying Italian-inspired meal garnished with fresh herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
- 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 to infuse flavor before cooking.
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and sear them until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per side depending on thickness. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside to rest, then slice thinly.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine or linguine and cook according to package directions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare the sauce base: In the same skillet used for the chicken, reduce heat to medium and melt the butter. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes, being careful not to burn it.
- Add cream and simmer: Pour in the heavy cream, stirring to combine, then reduce heat to low and let it gently simmer for 2-3 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Incorporate Parmesan cheese: Whisk the grated Parmesan cheese into the cream sauce until it melts and the sauce thickens to a smooth consistency. If using, stir in crushed red pepper flakes for a mild heat.
- Toss pasta in sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce and toss thoroughly to coat all noodles. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water until the desired creaminess is achieved.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the sliced chicken breasts to the skillet and gently mix everything together. Let it all simmer together over low heat for another 2-3 minutes so flavors meld and the chicken warms through.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley or basil on top for a burst of color and freshness. Serve the creamy Italian chicken pasta hot as a satisfying main dish.
Notes
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, though it will be less creamy.
- For a spicier kick, increase the crushed red pepper flakes to your preference or add a dash of cayenne pepper.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and smoothest sauce.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheat gently on the stovetop to avoid curdling the sauce.
- Feel free to swap parsley for fresh basil or oregano based on your herb preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Creamy Italian chicken pasta, Garlic Parmesan pasta, Cream sauce pasta, Chicken fettuccine recipe, Easy Italian dinner
