Description
Succulent garlic butter chicken bites dance with creamy parmesan pasta in this irresistible comfort meal. Delightful flavors merge seamlessly, creating a quick weeknight dinner that satisfies hearty appetites with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Ingredients:
- 1 pound (450 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Pasta Ingredients:
- 300 grams (10 ounces) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or your choice)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) heavy cream
- ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (plus extra for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil salted water in a large pot and prepare pasta according to package guidelines. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
- Generously coat chicken segments with paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper for robust flavor infusion.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature. Introduce seasoned chicken pieces, sautéing for 5-7 minutes while occasionally rotating until achieving a golden-brown exterior and ensuring complete internal cooking.
- Incorporate butter and finely chopped garlic into the skillet, thoroughly coating chicken and allowing flavors to marry for an additional 1-2 minutes. Transfer chicken to a separate plate.
- Utilize the identical skillet to create sauce by melting butter and sautéing minced garlic until aromatic.
- Stream heavy cream into the skillet, stirring continuously. Introduce Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning, gently simmering and whisking until sauce develops a luxurious, slightly thickened consistency.
- Consolidate cooked pasta with the creamy Parmesan sauce, ensuring comprehensive and even coating.
- Fold chopped parsley into the pasta mixture, adjusting seasoning with salt and pepper according to preference.
- Elegantly plate creamy pasta, strategically positioning garlic butter chicken bites on top. Embellish with additional fresh parsley and serve immediately while temperature and texture remain optimal.
Notes
- Opt for chicken thighs instead of breasts for extra juiciness and more tender meat.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt to reduce calories.
- Toast garlic briefly to enhance its nutty flavor and prevent burning, which can make the sauce bitter.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 756
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 26 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 170 mg