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This garlic parmesan chicken pasta recipe makes makes the creamiest bowl of pasta mixed with garlicky shredded chicken. Serve it with a simple salad and garlic bread for the perfect pasta dinner.
Some days just call for a big bowl of creamy, cheesy, cozy goodness. And that’s exactly what this pasta recipe is. Tender noodles are mixed with a creamy sauce made with cream, Parmesan and cream cheese. Then everything is tossed together with garlicky shredded chicken and served with Parmesan on top!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple. You’ll only need a few basic ingredients and simple techniques to make this recipe.
- So creamy. Every noodle is coated in the creamiest garlic parmesan sauce. It’s velvety smooth and tastes like a garlicky version of your favorite Alfredo sauce.
- Hearty. Tender shredded chicken is mixed with the noodles and sauce, making this meal extra satisfying.
- Made from scratch. This recipe was inspired by the viral Buffalo Wild Wings recipe made with bottled garlic parmesan sauce. That product isn’t available where I live, so we’re making the creamy sauce from scratch. 🙌
What The Test Kitchen Says:
I really liked this recipe. It was easy enough for me to make and the pasta was super creamy. Plus I like that it wasn’t a lot of work!
Watch How to Make It
Want to see how to make this recipe step-by-step? Check out my video below:
What You’ll Need
Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need to make this recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe below for exact amounts and a printable recipe card.
- Chicken thighs: I like to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs but you can also use chicken breasts.
- Olive oil
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, kosher salt and ground black pepper. You’ll also need salt for the pasta water.
- Pasta: Use 1lb of your favorite shape. I used elbow pasta in the photos and video shown here, but I also love using longer noodles like fettuccine, pappardelle or bucatini.
- Garlic: We’ll use 5 cloves, minced, for lots of garlicky goodness.
- For the sauce: Unsalted butter, flour, milk, heavy cream, Parmesan and cream cheese.
- For serving: Fresh parsley (optional) and extra Parmesan cheese.
Tips & Variation Ideas
- Instant pot or slower cooker: Want to make the chicken in your instant pot or slow cooker instead? Check out this post that covers different ways you can make shredded chicken.
- Add veggies: If you would like to add vegetables, you can add cooked broccoli florets or baby bella mushrooms sauteed in a bit of olive oil with garlic. Re-hydrated Porcini mushrooms would likewise be delicious. You could also stir a few handfuls of baby spinach in with the sauce (no need to cook first).
- Want to make this vegetarian? Simply leave out the chicken, the pasta will still be delicious!
More Creamy Pasta Recipes
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Tender pasta noodles mixed with a creamy garlic parmesan sauce and perfectly roasted chicken thighs.
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 2 pounds chicken thighs, boneless skinless
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
For the garlic parmesan pasta
- 2 teaspoons salt, for the pasta water
- 1 pound dry pasta, any shape
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ⅓ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra shredded parmesan for serving
Instructions
For the chicken
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Season the chicken. Rub the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and olive oil until thoroughly coated. Arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Roast. Bake the chicken for 25-30 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the largest piece reads 165°F.
- Rest. Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes.
- Shred. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and shred it using 2 forks. Set aside.
For the garlic parmesan pasta – Make the pasta and the sauce while the chicken is roasting.
- Cook the pasta. Fill a large pot with water, add 2 teaspoons of salt to the water, and bring it to a boil. Cook the pasta per the package’s instructions until al dente. Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water and drain the pasta. Set aside.
- Make the sauce. Melt the butter over medium heat in a large saucepan. Add the garlic and saute for 3 seconds. Whisk in the flour and cook for 30 seconds. Gradually whisk in the milk followed by the heavy cream. Whisk until smooth. Reduce the heat to low and cook the sauce for a minute or two, whisking frequently, until it has thickened to the desired consistency.
- Make it cheesy. Stir the parmesan cheese into the sauce followed by the cream cheese. Stir until the cheeses have melted into the sauce.
- Season. Taste the garlic parmesan sauce and season with salt and pepper as needed. I usually do a couple pinches of salt and few shakes of ground black pepper.
- Put it all together. Stir the pasta and the shredded chicken into the sauce. Stir until the sauce coats every noodle. If the sauce is having a hard time adhering to the noodles, stir in a bit of pasta water to loosen it up.
- Serve. Serve warm garnished with chopped fresh parsley and additional shredded parmesan if desired.
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Notes
How to store & reheat extras:
- Store cooled pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the microwave until warmed through. Halfway through heating, stir in a splash of cream or milk to loosen up the creamy sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 843kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 236mg | Sodium: 2081mg | Potassium: 733mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1221IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 355mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
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