Creamy Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta
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My son is a very picky eater, so whenever I make something new, I’m never quite sure how he’ll react. But when I made this Creamy Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta, he loved it so much that he told me it tasted like restaurant food. Coming from him, that was a huge compliment!
It quickly became one of those meals I knew I had to make again. I love that something that feels a little special is actually so easy to make at home.
What Is Creamy Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta?
This is a comforting pasta dish with golden fried chicken thighs and pasta in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce. The sauce is made with plenty of fresh garlic, heavy cream, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
The chicken is seasoned with steak seasoning and fried until fully cooked before going into the sauce. It continues to simmer while the sauce thickens, then the pasta is added at the end.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Picky-eater approved. My son loved it enough to call it restaurant food.
- Easy to make. The steps are simple, but the finished dish feels special.
- Rich and creamy. Heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan make a delicious creamy sauce.
- Full of garlic. Sixteen cloves give this pasta plenty of fresh garlic flavor.
- Flavorful chicken. Steak seasoning adds extra savory flavor to the fried chicken.
- A complete family dinner. Chicken and pasta make this filling enough to serve on its own.
If you’re looking for another comforting dinner to add to your rotation, try my Pork Adobo recipe for a savory Filipino favorite that’s easy to make at home.
Kitchen Tools for This Recipe
These simple kitchen tools make this Creamy Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta easier to prepare:
- Large skillet – A roomy skillet is ideal for frying the chicken and making the creamy garlic Parmesan sauce in the same pan.
- Kitchen tongs – Helpful for turning and removing the chicken while it cooks.
- Henckels kitchen knife – This is the knife brand I personally use, and a good sharp knife makes prepping the chicken and mincing all 16 cloves of garlic much easier.
- Cutting board – A good-sized cutting board gives you plenty of room for prepping the chicken and garlic.
- Instant-read meat thermometer – An easy way to check that the chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
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Ingredients You’ll Need
- 8 chicken thighs, boneless, cut into strips
- Steak seasoning, to taste, for the chicken
- 16 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 12–16 oz pasta, such as fettuccine, linguine, penne, or your favorite pasta
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning, plus more to taste
- Salt and black pepper, to taste, for the sauce
- Fresh or dried parsley, to taste
- Cooking oil, for frying
How to Make Creamy Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta
- Season the chicken. Season both sides of the chicken thighs generously with steak seasoning.
- Fry the chicken. Heat cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken until golden brown and fully cooked through, turning as needed so both sides cook evenly. The internal temperature should reach 165°F. Cook in batches if necessary, then transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Cook the pasta. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the garlic. Reduce the heat to medium. Melt the butter in the same skillet, then add the minced garlic. Cook for about 30–60 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Make the sauce. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Stir until the Parmesan melts and everything is well combined.
- Start thickening the sauce. Let the sauce simmer gently until it starts to thicken.
- Return the chicken. Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and spoon the creamy sauce over it. Continue to let the sauce simmer gently with the chicken until it becomes thick and creamy enough to your liking.
- Season to taste. Taste the sauce and add more Italian seasoning, salt, or black pepper as desired.
- Add the pasta. Add the cooked pasta and gently toss until well coated in the creamy garlic Parmesan sauce.
- Finish and serve. Sprinkle with fresh or dried parsley and serve hot.
Tips for the Best Creamy Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Use steak seasoning on the chicken. This is what I use instead of simply seasoning the chicken with salt and pepper. It adds plenty of savory flavor before the chicken goes into the sauce.
Use freshly grated Parmesan. I use freshly grated Parmesan because it melts beautifully into the sauce and helps give it a smooth, creamy texture.
Fry the chicken in batches if needed. Avoid overcrowding the skillet so the chicken can cook and brown evenly.
Watch the garlic. Garlic cooks quickly. About 30–60 seconds is enough. You want it fragrant without letting it burn.
Give the sauce time to thicken. Let the sauce start to thicken before returning the chicken, then continue simmering everything together until the sauce reaches the consistency you like.
Adjust the amount of pasta. Use closer to 12 ounces if you like your pasta extra saucy or up to 16 ounces if you prefer more pasta.
Taste before adding salt. Steak seasoning, chicken broth, and Parmesan can all add saltiness, so taste the sauce first.
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Substitutions and Variations
Chicken breast: You can substitute chicken breast for the thighs. Season it with steak seasoning and fry until fully cooked and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Different pasta: Fettuccine, linguine, penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti all work well with this sauce.
Add vegetables: Broccoli, spinach, or mushrooms are easy additions if you’d like some vegetables in the dish.
Extra Parmesan: Add a little more freshly grated Parmesan on top before serving if you like it extra cheesy.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
The sauce will become thicker as it cools. When reheating, add a small splash of chicken broth, heavy cream, or milk if needed to loosen it. Reheat gently until the pasta is hot and the chicken is warmed through.
Creamy Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Season the Chicken. Season both sides of the chicken thighs generously with steak seasoning.
- Cook the Chicken. Heat cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken until golden brown and fully cooked through, turning as needed. The internal temperature should reach 165°F. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Cook the Pasta. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté the Garlic. Reduce the heat to medium. Melt the butter in the same skillet, then add the minced garlic. Cook for about 30–60 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Make the Parmesan Cream Sauce. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Add the freshly grated Parmesan and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Stir until the cheese melts and everything is well combined.
- Simmer the Sauce. Let the sauce simmer gently until it starts to thicken.
- Return the Chicken. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and spoon the sauce over it. Continue to simmer gently until the sauce becomes thick and creamy enough to your liking.
- Season to Taste. Taste and add more Italian seasoning, salt, or black pepper as desired.
- Add the Pasta. Add the cooked pasta and gently toss until coated in the creamy garlic Parmesan sauce.
- Garnish and Serve. Sprinkle with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- Steak seasoning blends vary in saltiness, so season the chicken according to your taste.
- Fry the chicken in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the skillet.
- Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Freshly grated Parmesan is recommended for a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Start with 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning and add more to taste.
- Continue simmering the sauce with the chicken until it reaches your preferred thickness.
- Taste before adding extra salt since the steak seasoning, Parmesan, and chicken broth already add saltiness.
- Use about 12 ounces of pasta for a saucier dish or up to 16 ounces if you prefer more pasta.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, add a small splash of chicken broth, heavy cream, or milk.
A Family Dinner Worth Making Again
This Creamy Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta has definitely earned a place in our family dinner rotation. Anytime my picky eater tells me something tastes like restaurant food, I know I’ve found a keeper!
I hope your family enjoys this creamy, garlicky pasta as much as mine did. If you make it, I’d love to hear how it turned out—leave a comment below and let me know!
Try a Filipino Family Favorite Next
If you enjoyed this creamy pasta and want to try one of my Filipino recipes next, my Pork Adobo Recipe is a great place to start.
