This garlic parmesan chicken pasta is a quick and easy recipe perfect for any night of the week. Seasoned boneless skinless chicken thighs cooked in the air fryer are smothered in a rich, creamy garlic parmesan sauce to create a dish that takes you to Olive Garden, but from home.
Chicken and pasta with a creamy sauce is a thing of beauty, really. It's so rich, and you can create many different flavor profiles with just a few tweaks. For instance, I took my chicken garlic parmesan pasta recipe and tweaked it by substituting breasts for thighs and adjusting the seasoning slightly, and just like that, I had another delicious recipe for the family.
This garlic parmesan chicken recipe is one of my favorite gluten-free main dishes to make. The air fryer ensures the chicken is tender and juicy on the inside while giving the coated exterior a wonderful color and slight crispness that accentuates the flavors in the chicken. After that, I just make the simple sauce and watch everyone enjoy!
Like my Tuscan chicken thighs, it's a simple, easy variation of the original that everyone can enjoy, so it's perfect for enjoying a delicious meal with mixed company.
Why You'll Love This Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Easy Ingredients: This recipe uses simple ingredients you can find in your kitchen and any grocery store.
- Easy to Make: It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps to make the seasoned chicken and rich, creamy garlic parmesan sauce.
- A Perfect Weeknight Meal: Quick and easy is always the perfect recipe for weeknight family dinners!
- Super Flavorful: The seasoning on the chicken and the garlic parmesan sauce create an incredibly flavorful chicken dish.
- Versatile: Serve this chicken over pasta as shown, or pair it with sides like gluten-free mashed potatoes or add it to salads like this arugula salad with pistachios.
- Great for Meal Prep: The chicken is freezer-friendly, so you can make extra for future use.
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Ingredients
I prefer Springer Mountain boneless, skinless chicken thighs because of their high quality, great flavor, and commitment to never using antibiotics, hormones, or animal by-products in its feed.
I've also used Costabile garlic olive oil to add even more flavor to the chicken. Its quality and purity always make it my go-to brand. Use code: 15GOLDENGK for 15% off on Amazon!
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact quantities.
Flavor Variations
- Change the protein: You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts, pork chops, or even your favorite fish or shellfish in this recipe.
- Use your favorite noodles: I serve this over spaghetti, but you can use any of your favorite noodles.
- Make it spicy: Add some red pepper flakes for a spicy version with a kick of heat.
- Make it dairy-free: Use plant-based cream and butter for a dairy-free version.
- Make it extra cheesy: Add mozzarella for an extra cheesy version.
How to Make Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Step 1: Rinse the thighs and pat them dry with paper towels. Then, mix the oil and seasonings to form a paste. Coat both sides of the chicken.
Step 2: Place the thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Then, air fry until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, flipping halfway through cooking.
Step 3: While the chicken cooks, saute the onions and garlic until fragrant. Then, add the heavy cream, broth, and butter and bring to a low simmer. Finally, add the grated parmesan and remaining sauce ingredients and simmer until thickened.
Step 4: Add the thighs to the sauce and simmer on low until heated through. Serve as a pasta dish or with rice or mashed potatoes.
Expert Tips
- Wash the chicken and pat it dry so the seasoned paste sticks to it readily.
- Wear rubber gloves and use your hands to coat the chicken thighs with the seasoning paste easily.
- Stir occasionally while your sauce simmers to prevent sticking.
- Bring your cream and chicken broth mixture to a light bubble. Don't boil it, or it will break.
Garlic Parmesan Chicken FAQ
Unless you're adding a spice rub, chicken should not be washed before cooking. There was a time when washing chicken was believed to reduce bacteria. However, studies have shown that washing chicken does not make it any safer. Rather, it spreads bacteria around the kitchen via water droplets from washing.
The only real way to know when chicken is done is by using a meat thermometer. When the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, it's done.
There are many types of gluten-free flour out there. They can be made with rice, almonds, oats, beans, or gluten-free grains.
Garlic parmesan is a flavor profile used in a variety of dishes. It's a combination of fresh or dried garlic and parmesan cheese usually used in some kind of cream sauce.
📖 Recipe
Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken Thighs
- 6 Springer Mountain Farms boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 ½ teaspoon 14-spice seasoning
- ¾ tablespoon garlic pepper seasoning
- ¾ tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt more or less to taste
- 1 tablespoon Costabile garlic olive oil
Garlic Parmesan Sauce
- 2 tablespoon minced onion
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
- 1 handful spinach
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese
- ½ tablespoon lemon pepper
- ½ tablespoon parsley
- 1 tablespoon gluten free 1:1 flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
Chicken Thighs
- Wash the chicken thighs and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Mix the olive oil, 14-spice seasoning, garlic pepper, paprika, and salt until it forms a paste. Adjust with a bit more olive oil if it isn't pasty.
- Using your hands with gloves or a spoon, coat both sides of the chicken.
- Air fry the chicken in a single layer to 380 degrees for 8 minutes. Then, flip and air fry for another 5 to 7 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Set aside.
Garlic Parmesan Sauce
- While the chicken is cooking, preheat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium low heat. Then, sauté the minced onions and garlic for 2 minutes.
- Add the heavy cream, broth, and butter, and bring it to a light bubble.
- Add the dry parsley, garlic powder, lemon pepper, chopped spinach, flour, and parmesan cheese. Simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
- Either place the chicken back into the sauce or place it over pasta, potatoes or rice and pour the sauce over. I served mine with a simple butter pasta.
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Wrap the cooked thighs in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
- Microwave individual portions of chicken, sauce, and pasta at 1-minute intervals until heated through.
- Wash the chicken and pat it dry so the seasoned paste sticks to it readily.
- Wear rubber gloves and use your hands to coat the chicken thighs with the seasoning paste easily.
- Stir occasionally while your sauce simmers to prevent sticking.
- Bring your cream and chicken broth mixture to a light bubble. Don't boil it, or it will break.
Krystle says
I can't get enough of this garlic parm sauce, SO good. A new fave in this house.
Matt says
These chicken thighs came out incredibly flavorful and juicy. The garlic and parmesan blend really shines and makes it a go to dinner option.
Paula says
Incredible recipe for garlic parm chicken! the breading turned out great, and that sauce was to die for!
Nor says
I love that you used chicken thighs—they're so flavorful—and pairing them with a creamy garlic parmesan sauce sounds absolutely dreamy. The fact that it's air fryer-friendly and quick enough for a weeknight is such a win. Definitely adding this to our dinner rotation!
Lisa Porter says
My kids always complain that "chicken doesn't taste," but this recipe proved them wrong. They loved it! A definite keeper.
Sueheylee says
Made this recipe tonight and it exceeded my expectations! Extremely happy and can't wait to try out more recipes. Thank you for sharing your recipes with the world. This was just too good!
NKendrick says
Thank you so much for the kind feedback!
Sia Roci says
The is so good, very easy to make! It’s a family favorite mmm 😋 My parents both tried it too and loved it! I’ve tried so many! All amazing! 🥰
NKendrick says
YAY!!! Thank you so much! SO happy you all enjoyed it!
Angelique says
Es war so lecker 😋
Werden wir auf jeden Fall öfter machen.
Danke für das tolle Rezept
Anonymous says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!