Homemade Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
This Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is the ultimate weeknight hero for anyone who wants a "fancy" restaurant-style meal without the heavy price tag or long hours at the stove. It features succulent, pan-seared chicken breast tossed with al dente penne in a rich, velvety garlic cream sauce that is finished with a generous dusting of sharp Parmesan cheese and fresh spinach.
Ingredients
- 12 oz Penne pasta
- 1.5 lbs Chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups Fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup Heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 cup Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp Dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear for 5–7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add the cooked pasta, seared chicken, and fresh spinach to the skillet.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is glossy. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve immediately.