Description
Creamy Garlic Chicken & Penne is a comforting one-skillet pasta dish with tender chicken, rich garlic cream sauce, and Parmesan cheese—perfect for a quick yet satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper and cook until golden and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux. Slowly whisk in chicken broth and heavy cream until smooth.
- Add Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Simmer 2–3 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Return chicken to the skillet. Add cooked penne and toss everything to coat with the sauce.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for better melting and richer flavor.
- Add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms for variety.
- Swap heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce.
- For extra spice, add red pepper flakes or hot sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: creamy garlic chicken, penne pasta recipe, one pan chicken pasta, garlic cream sauce pasta, weeknight dinner