Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta is a comforting, quick, and easy dinner idea. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the creamy sauce that coats perfectly cooked pasta and juicy chicken. The garlic aroma will fill your kitchen and make your family beg for this better-than-takeout dish. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken and Creamy Garlic Chicken That Makes Dinner a Breeze with Fresh Veggies!.
Why This Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta Is Pure Comfort
- Quick and easy weeknight dinner
- Better than takeout taste at home
- Creamy, garlicky sauce coats every bite
- Customizable with your favorite veggies
What You'll Need for Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- garlic
- heavy cream
- pasta
- salt
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes
- parmesan cheese
- fresh parsley
- Optional: spinach
- Optional: mushrooms
- Optional: sun-dried tomatoes
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- chicken breasts: You can also use chicken thighs for this recipe.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfectly cooked chicken and sauce. → See on Amazon
- Box Grater — Quickly grate parmesan cheese for a perfect topping. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
- Cook Chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook in a hot skillet until browned and cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same pan, sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Make Sauce: Add heavy cream to the pan and simmer until thickened. Stir in parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Cook Pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Combine: Add cooked chicken and pasta to the pan with the sauce. Toss to combine. Add reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency. Serve with fresh parsley and additional parmesan cheese.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
- : Use full-fat heavy cream for the richest sauce.
- Common mistake and fix: If your sauce is too thick, add a little pasta water to thin it out. If it's too thin, let it simmer longer to reduce.
- : For a healthier version, use half-and-half or milk instead of heavy cream. Add a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce if needed.
- : Add your favorite vegetables to the pan with the garlic to create a one-pan meal.
Storing & Reheating Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can make the sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Cook the chicken and pasta fresh when ready to serve.
Freezing Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For an extra garlicky kick, add a little garlic powder to the chicken seasoning.
- Best substitution: Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for a more flavorful dish.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your chicken is sticking to the pan, it's not hot enough. Make sure your pan is hot before adding the chicken.
Want to level up this recipe?
Pasta Measuring Cup — Ensure perfectly cooked pasta every time with this measuring cup that holds the exact amount of pasta for 4 servings. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- garlic
- heavy cream
- pasta
Seasonings
- salt
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes
- parmesan cheese
- fresh parsley
Optional Toppings
- spinach
- mushrooms
- sun-dried tomatoes
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook in a hot skillet until browned and cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same pan, sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Make Sauce: Add heavy cream to the pan and simmer until thickened. Stir in parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Cook Pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Combine: Add cooked chicken and pasta to the pan with the sauce. Toss to combine. Add reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency. Serve with fresh parsley and additional parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Chef tip: For an extra garlicky kick, add a little garlic powder to the chicken seasoning.
- Best substitution: Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for a more flavorful dish.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your chicken is sticking to the pan, it's not hot enough. Make sure your pan is hot before adding the chicken.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: You can make the sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Cook the chicken and pasta fresh when ready to serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 650
- Protein: 40g
- Fat: 35g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 140mg
- Sat. Fat: 20g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta FAQs
Yes, you can make the sauce ahead of time. Cook the chicken and pasta fresh when ready to serve.
If your sauce is too thick, add a little pasta water to thin it out. If it's too thin, let it simmer longer to reduce.
While you can cook the chicken in the air fryer, the sauce is best made on the stovetop for better control over the consistency.
Use half-and-half or milk instead of heavy cream. Add a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce if needed.
Yes, this recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
