Description
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta – a rich, savory dish featuring tender chicken in garlic butter and a luscious, cheesy pasta sauce. Perfect for an easy yet indulgent weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Bites:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
For the Creamy Parmesan Pasta:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 oz pasta of choice (linguine, fettuccine, or penne)
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
Preparing the Chicken Bites
- Season chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Reduce heat to medium, add butter and minced garlic, stirring to coat the chicken in garlic butter. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside.
Making the Creamy Parmesan Pasta
- In the same skillet, melt additional butter and sauté minced garlic for about 30 seconds until aromatic.
- Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Add grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and incorporated.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Toss the drained pasta into the creamy sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency.
- Return the garlic butter chicken to the skillet, tossing to combine.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.
Notes
- Spicy Kick: Add red pepper flakes or hot sauce.
- Veggie Boost: Toss in spinach, mushrooms, or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Low-Carb Option: Substitute pasta with zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
- Cheese Lovers: Add mozzarella or asiago for extra cheesiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Garlic butter chicken, creamy Parmesan pasta, easy weeknight dinner, rich and cheesy pasta, comfort food recipe