This pasta with chicken and garlic recipe is easy to make and hard to stop eating! Tender, juicy, seasoned boneless skinless chicken breast tenders and gluten free pasta are tossed with a creamy parmesan cheese sauce to create a rich, creamy garlic chicken pasta dish loaded with flavor and ready in just about 30 minutes.
I love making my signature gluten free pasta recipes whenever I can. From special occasions to weeknight dinners, a rich, creamy pasta dish like this blackened chicken alfredo always wows the crowd with its flavor and texture.
My newest addition to my pasta rotation is this delicious garlic parmesan chicken pasta recipe. It's a lighter variation of my creamy chicken pasta that uses spaghetti noodles and a lighter sauce that still delivers a creamy texture and tons of garlic flavor.
I especially love this recipe paired with a nice salad like this citrus arugula salad for a complete meal loaded with veggies and complementary flavors.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Creamy but Light: Made with heavy cream and chicken broth, the parmesan cream sauce is luxurious and creamy without being overly heavy, making it a great middle ground between super-creamy sauces and thin ones.
- Layered Flavors: Both the chicken and sauce are seasoned with a blend of Italian seasoning and spices, resulting in a dish with a deep, complex flavor profile.
- Budget-Friendly: Chicken pasta recipes are budget-friendly, offering a rich, meaty flavor without breaking the bank.
- Quick and Easy: This recipe is completed in about 30 minutes and requires only a few simple steps to prepare.
- Customizable: It's easy to change up the ingredients to make this dish your own.
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Ingredients
I prefer Costabile olive oil for its quality, purity, and flavor. Use Code: 15GOLDENGK on Amazon for 15% off.
You can find a complete list of ingredients and their exact quantities in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Variations
- Meat: Chicken breasts or thighs are suitable for this recipe. You can also make this with beef or pork strips, similar to this steak pasta alfredo. Shrimp or prawns are also great options for a seafood version.
- Chicken Livers: Chicken livers have a rich, deep, meaty flavor and almost velvety texture when cooked properly, and they work very well in pasta.
- Spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes for a kick of heat.
- Pasta: Your favorite type of pasta will work well in this recipe. Use the one you prefer.
- Dairy Free: Use plant milk and cheese to create a version of this recipe that's both gluten and dairy free.
- Grilled: Grilling the chicken adds even more flavor to the dish.
- Vegetables: Add veggies like cherry tomatoes, onions, broccoli, or mushrooms for more flavor.
How to Make Pasta with Chicken and Garlic
Step 1: Coat the chicken evenly with the seasonings. Then, cook the chicken in olive oil over medium heat until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Transfer to a plate.
Step 2: In the same skillet, saute the garlic, onion, tomato paste, and seasoning in butter until fragrant. Then, stir in the remaining sauce ingredients. Add the spinach and cook until wilted. Finally, add the Parmesan and stir until smooth and creamy.
Step 3: Gently stir in al dente pasta. Then, stir in sliced chicken or plate it on top of the pasta.
Step 4: Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels before seasoning it to minimize spattering during the searing process.
- Boil the pasta while the chicken is cooking to save time.
- Pasta is cooked to al dente when it is tender but still slightly firm.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is neither overcooked nor undercooked.
- Use a gentle folding motion when adding the pasta to the sauce to help keep it from breaking.
- I recommend the Circulon C1 non-stick pan. This durable pan features ScratchDefense technology to ensure your pan remains as good in the years to come as it is today.
Pasta with Chicken and Garlic FAQ
Chicken breasts and thighs are most commonly used for chicken-based pasta dishes. Some recipes use chicken livers for their rich, luxurious flavor and texture.
Pasta is al dente when it's firm and slightly chewy. It should be tender but firm when bitten into, with a slightly less cooked interior.
If your pasta falls apart when you stir it into the sauce, it has been overcooked. Pasta should always be cooked to al dente, but that's especially important when it will be stirred into a sauce.
📖 Recipe
Pasta with Chicken and Garlic
Video
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ tablespoon paprika
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon minced onion
- 3 tablespoon garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon dried shallots
- 2 ½ tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ⅓ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ tablespoon gluten free flour
- ⅓ cup chicken broth
- 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
- 2 cups spinach diced
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
Chicken
- Stir the chicken, paprika, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl until the chicken is evenly coated.
- Boil the pasta according to the package directions for al dente while cooking the chicken, drain, and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chicken for 3 minutes per side or until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees. Set aside.
Pasta
- In the same pan over medium-low heat, saute the minced garlic, onion, shallots, tomato paste, garlic paste, Italian seasoning, paprika, and salt in butter for 2 minutes, or until fragrant.
- Add the chicken broth, heavy cream, and spinach. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken and the spinach is wilted.
- Add the Parmesan cheese and stir until creamy.
- Gently stir in the pasta. Then, either cut the chicken into strips and stir it into the pasta, or serve it over the top. Enjoy!
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freezing is not recommended.
- Reheat the pasta in a saucepan over medium-low heat or microwave individual portions at 1-minute intervals.
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels before seasoning it to minimize spattering during the searing process.
- Boil the pasta while the chicken is cooking to save time.
- Pasta is cooked to al dente when it is tender but still slightly firm.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is neither overcooked nor undercooked.
- Use a gentle folding motion when adding the pasta to the sauce to help keep it from breaking.
Elizabeth says
This pasta is incredible! The parmesan cheese sauce is so creamy and pairs perfectly with the chicken. Adding this recipe to our dinner rotation list!
Leslie says
This recipe is a classic..you just can't go wrong with this one! It's delicious, filling, and quick!
amy liu dong says
Pasta and chicken are definitely a perfect combination. No arguments needed, this dish is delicious!
Claudia says
Just made this pasta with chicken and garlic—simple, comforting, and full of flavor. Total weeknight win! 🍝🧄🍗
Paula says
This garlic chicken and pasta was incredible! So flavorful and easy to make too.