Description
High Protein Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a quick, restaurant-style meal featuring seared chicken, pasta, and a creamy garlic parmesan sauce. Packed with protein and flavor, it keeps you full and satisfied while being easy enough for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Protein:
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
Aromatics & Flavor:
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup chicken broth
Pasta:
8 oz pasta of your choice (penne, fettuccine, rigatoni)
Fat & Seasoning:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt and black pepper to taste
Garnish (Optional):
Fresh parsley, extra parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Cut chicken into even pieces and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
2. Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken 5-7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
4. Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook 30 seconds. Deglaze with chicken broth, scraping up browned bits.
5. Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and parmesan until smooth.
6. Add chicken and pasta back to the skillet. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed for sauce consistency.
7. Serve immediately with parsley and extra parmesan.
Notes
Let pasta cool before storing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat gently with a tablespoon or two of water or milk to loosen sauce.
Use freshly grated parmesan for best creaminess.
Swap chicken for shrimp or chickpeas for vegetarian option.
Add veggies like spinach or sun-dried tomatoes for extra nutrition.
Gluten-free pasta works fine; cooking technique remains the same.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, High Protein, Pasta
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg