Garlic Chicken Pasta

An easy creamy garlic chicken pasta recipe that’s smothered in a parmesan garlic cream sauce, I don’t think it gets any better than this.

Why this recipe works

I don’t know about you, but garlic chicken pasta is what my dreams are made of. But, if there’s one thing I do know, it’s that the people love garlic chicken. Add a rich creamy sauce and hearty pasta to the mix, and you’re golden. Even my youngest daughter scarfed it down, so it’s safe to say it’s kid-friendly!

We dressed it up with some spinach, though you can easily add bacon, broccoli, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, or even red pepper flakes for a kick of heat. We love a customizable recipe.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

PASTA – While we used ziti pasta for this dish, you can use any of your favorite noodles. Other suggestions would be rotini, mostaccioli, bowties, linguini, or spaghetti.

GARLIC – Fresh or jarred minced garlic will both work here. This simply comes down to personal preference and convenience.

SAUCE – The sauce base is primarily heavy whipping cream with parmesan cheese. You can substitute with half and half if needed, or whole milk. Regular milk can also be used, but keep in mind that the dish will be less rich and not as thick. Milk has a significantly higher water content than cream, so if you replace the cream, you may need to simmer longer to thicken.

SPINACH – Fresh raw spinach is preferable, though frozen spinach will also work if you allow it to thaw and squeeze out as much of the excess water as possible. You can substitute with kale, or omit the spinach altogether if it isn’t your fancy.

SEASONING – You won’t use all the seasoning blend. You can keep it for another dish, or simply season the chicken with each individual seasoning (to taste) without combining them.

How to Make Garlic Chicken Pasta

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Trim chicken of excess fat.
2. Combine garlic salt, black pepper, and onion powder. Season both sides with some of the mixture (to taste) and reserve the rest.
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Cook chicken breasts in oil for 4-5 minutes per side, they should be golden brown. Cover skillet and reduce heat to low to cook the center of the chicken, about 10 minutes more.
4. Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm.
5. Melt butter in skillet then add minced garlic, cooking for a minute or until fragrant.
6. Add heavy whipping cream, more seasoning blend (to taste), and grated parmesan cheese. Whisk together and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
7. Stir in spinach leaves.
8. Slice the chicken, then add it back to the skillet. Add cooked pasta. Cook another 5 minutes, or until heated through.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

This dish is great for all sorts of additions! Crumbled bacon or pancetta, sauteed mushrooms, peas, sun dried tomatoes, red pepper flakes for heat, or broccoli for some additional color and nutrients are all good options.

Absolutely. You can substitute with boneless chicken thighs if preferred. The thighs will be even juicier!

Sure, add a dash or two of red pepper flakes to the mix when you add your seasonings. Cayenne pepper will also work.

To thicken your cream sauce, you can add extra Parmesan cheese or continue to simmer gently until it thickens. To thin it out, slowly add a splash of pasta water until you reach the right consistency.

Store any cooled leftovers in an airtight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of heavy whipping cream or milk to help it loosen if needed. Stir often, and heat until warmed through.

Serving Suggestions

This dish is pretty filling on its own, but you can serve your garlic chicken pasta with a side salad or some hunks of crusty bread for dipping! I love to add some shredded Parmesan and chopped parsley as garnish, but this is optional. Enjoy!

More Chicken Recipes

• Garlic Chicken
• Chicken Alfredo
• Chicken and Peppers Pasta
• Chicken Carbonara
• Garlic Parmesan Chicken

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