Garlic and Parmesan Creamy Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless chicken breast
• salt (To taste; for seasoning the chicken)
• 1 tsp black pepper (For the chicken)
• 1 tbsp garlic powder (For the chicken)
• 1 tbsp onion powder (For the chicken)
• 1 tsp red chili powder (For the chicken)
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (For the chicken)
• oil (For cooking the chicken)
• 8 oz penne pasta
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp fresh garlic (Chopped)
• 1 shallot (Chopped)
• salt (To taste; for the pasta water)
• 1.5 cup unsweetened heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese (Grated)
• salt (To taste; added with the sauce seasonings)
• 1 tsp black pepper (For the sauce)
• 1 tbsp oregano
• 1 tbsp garlic powder (For the sauce)
• 1 tbsp onion powder (For the sauce)
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley (Chopped)
• 1 chicken bouillon cube (Optional)
• 1 cup reserved pasta water (Reserve before draining; use 1/2 cup initially and add more if needed)

Steps

1. 1

   Place the boneless chicken breast in a mixing bowl. Add salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, red chili powder, and Cajun seasoning. Mix thoroughly until the chicken is evenly coated.

2. 2

   Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for about 5–6 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through.

3. 3

   Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set it aside.

4. 4

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.

5. 5

   Before draining the pasta, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain the penne.

6. 6

   In the same skillet used for the chicken, melt the butter over medium heat.

7. 7

   Add the chopped garlic and shallot to the melted butter. Cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant.

8. 8

   Pour 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water into the skillet and add the optional chicken bouillon cube. Mix to combine.

9. 9

   Add the heavy whipping cream. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 2–3 minutes, until slightly thickened.

10. 10

    Gradually add the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until it melts into a smooth, creamy sauce.

11. 11

    Add salt, black pepper, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and chopped parsley. Stir to combine.

12. 12

    Add the cooked penne to the creamy sauce and toss until the pasta is coated. If the sauce is too thick, add more reserved pasta water as needed.

13. 13

    Slice the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and add it to the pasta and sauce. Toss to combine and serve hot.

Notes

The source does not specify the pasta package cooking time or an exact final amount of pasta water beyond reserving 1 cup. Use additional reserved water only as needed to loosen the sauce.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• chicken
• Italian-inspired
• creamy
• stovetop
• comfort food