Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken and Pasta That Wows in 30 Mins
This creamy garlic butter chicken and pasta is the ultimate one-pot dinner hero—loaded with juicy seared chicken, rich Parmesan cream sauce, and tender pasta cooked together for maximum flavor. Ready in just 30 minutes!
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Pot
- Tongs
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
For the Chicken Bites
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized cubes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
For the Garlic Butter Sauce
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter divided
- 4 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
For the Pasta
- 8 oz pasta any type; penne, bowtie or spaghetti
To Garnish
- fresh parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken cubes in a single layer, season with paprika, salt, and pepper. Sear for 6–8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- In the same pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes.
- Lower the heat, add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan. Stir and simmer 3–4 minutes until sauce thickens and coats a spoon.
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
- Return chicken to the pan and stir to combine. Let it heat through for 1 minute.
- Top with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan to avoid grainy texture. Don’t overcook the chicken. Add cheese off heat for a silky sauce. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat gently with a splash of cream or broth.