Description
This creamy garlic parmesan chicken with cheesy penne pasta recipe is the ultimate comfort food! Loaded with juicy seared chicken, rich garlic parmesan sauce, and gooey mozzarella cheese over penne pasta, this dish is easy, indulgent, and perfect for weeknight dinners. Ideal for creamy chicken pasta lovers.
Ingredients
1 lb chicken breasts
12 oz penne pasta
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
1. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and sear chicken until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
3. Boil penne pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain.
4. In the same skillet, reduce heat and add butter. Once melted, add garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
5. Pour in heavy cream and simmer. Stir in parmesan and mozzarella until melted and creamy.
6. Slice cooked chicken and add it to the sauce with the cooked pasta. Toss to combine. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed.
7. Serve hot, topped with extra parmesan and chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
Let the sauce simmer gently; don’t boil it hard or it could split.
Fresh parmesan gives better melt and flavor than pre-shredded.
You can use rotini or rigatoni if penne isn’t available.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (based on 6 servings)
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 125mg