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+ servings
A close-up of a bowl filled with Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta, featuring penne pasta, tender chicken pieces, and a rich sauce, garnished with parsley and cheese.

Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta

This creamy garlic chicken pasta recipe is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for weeknight dinners. It's easy to make and tastes like a restaurant-quality meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz penne pasta
  • 2 large chicken breasts butterflied lengthwise into 4 pieces, 1 – 1.5lbs
  • Salt and pepper for seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter divided
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • ½ teaspoon fresh rosemary finely chopped
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth or stock
  • 1 cup half and half or heavy cream warmed
  • Parmesan cheese for serving

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Skillet
  • Wooden spatula

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook penne pasta according to package directions. Once cooked, reserve ½ cup of pasta water, drain, and set aside.
  2. Butterfly the chicken breasts and cut them into four pieces. Pat them dry with a paper towel and season on both sides with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. Once the butter is melted, place the chicken pieces on the pan and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on the first side without disturbing them, flip, and cook for 3 to 4 additional minutes on the other side, until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Remove the chicken from the pan onto a board and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining tablespoon of butter onto the pan. Add the whole garlic cloves and sauté them for about 2 to 3 minutes, moving them around to make sure they toast to a golden color, but they don't burn.
  5. Add the rosemary to the pan and toast it for about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth or stock, and as it simmers, use a wooden spatula to scrape the tidbits from the bottom of the pan. Add warmed cream to the pan and stir, bringing it to a simmer, and then cook it down for about 4 minutes. While the sauce is simmering, slice the cooked chicken breasts diagonally.

Notes

This recipe can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta.

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