Description
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta is a quick, comforting skillet meal featuring tender garlic-infused chicken bites served over a rich parmesan cream pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1½ tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional for garnish)
- 8 oz fettuccine or pasta of choice
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup reserved pasta water (as needed for thinning sauce)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, season chicken with paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear on all sides until golden and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium, add butter and garlic to the skillet, stirring to coat chicken in the garlic butter. Cook 1–2 more minutes, then remove from heat.
- In a separate pan, melt butter and sauté garlic for 30 seconds. Add cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in Parmesan and whisk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed to thin.
- Plate creamy pasta and top with garlic butter chicken bites. Garnish with parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining to adjust sauce consistency.
- Dry-season the chicken well to promote a crisp sear.
- Use half-and-half for a lighter cream sauce, if preferred.
- Garnish with chopped parsley for color and freshness.
- Cook pasta to al dente for the best texture with the creamy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: Approximately 710 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 72 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg
Keywords: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites, Creamy Parmesan Pasta, Skillet chicken pasta, 30 minute meals, Italian-American pasta