Golden Garlic Chicken Bites over Creamy Parmesan Pasta
Creamy, juicy, and packed with golden garlicky goodness, this dish features tender chicken bites seared to a perfect golden brown and tossed with a velvety Parmesan cream sauce over pasta.
Servings: 4 servings
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Large Skillet
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 8 oz pasta (spaghetti or fettuccine)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and paprika. Make sure each piece is evenly coated for a consistent crust.
- Add the chicken to the hot skillet in a single layer. Cook for 4–5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium and add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the same skillet. Let it melt and swirl to pick up the browned bits — that’s flavor!
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
- Stir in the chicken broth and heavy cream, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer. Scrape the bottom of the pan to release any flavorful browned bits.
- Gradually stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it melts smoothly into the sauce. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
- Toss the cooked pasta into the creamy Parmesan sauce until well coated. Add a splash of pasta water if you need to loosen the sauce.
- Return the chicken bites to the skillet or place them on top of the sauced pasta. Garnish generously with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for better melting. Don’t overcrowd the pan when searing chicken. If the sauce is too thick, stir in reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.