This Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta uses just a handful of ingredients, but it’s full of creamy, garlicky deliciousness! Using rotisserie chicken, leftover chicken or easy chicken in the air fryer, this dish comes together in less than 30 minutes!
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Pasta and chicken have got to be two of my family’s most-devoured foods! So when I can put them together, it’s always a hit! My family especially loves this Instant Pot Chicken Penne!
One thing I do to make weeknight meals a breeze is to get a rotisserie chicken, shred it over the weekend, and use it for recipes throughout the week. Or, I’ll cook up a few frozen chicken breasts in the air fryer or this perfect baked chicken which are also super easy!
Want to totally amp up the flavor?! Use this blackened chicken recipe–DIVINE!
A few of my go-to dishes using cooked chicken are of course, this garlic parmesan pasta, but also these Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls , this Creamy Enchilada Skillet and my super easy Chicken Broccoli Lasagna!
This creamy garlic parmesan pasta will become a quick family favorite! The sauce is rich and flavorful but NOT heavy or thick (the chicken stock helps with that!). You can leave out the chicken, too and it makes a great side dish or small pasta course!
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Quick and easy, perfect for a weeknight meal!
- BASIC ingredients come together to make a super flavorful dish!
- Great way to use up leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken!
- Perfect pasta main course or works well as a side dish, too!
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this delicious Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta:
INGREDIENT NOTES
Chicken: I like having pre cooked chicken on hand like rotisserie chicken or these easy Air Fryer Chicken Breasts to help this meal come together super quickly! You can also cook perfect chicken breasts in a pan and use those as well!
Parmesan: While pre grated parm saves a little time, for this recipe, take the extra few minutes and grate it fresh. It melts much more smoothly, giving you a super silky un-clumpy sauce 🙂
Pasta: ANY shape pasta will work here! Use your fave!
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE: STEP BY STEP
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!
Step 1: Over low heat, melt butter. Then add garlic and flour and cook for one minute.
Step 2: Turn heat up to medium and add chicken stock and cream. Season with salt. When it comes to a boil, simmer for 4-5 minutes until slightly thickened.
Step 3: Stir in parmesan cheese and chicken.
Step 4: Cook until heated through, then add you pasta. Toss until pasta is well coated with the sauce and serve!
RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS
- While I LOVE pre grated Parmesan cheese, for this recipe (and others involving melting the parmesan), use freshly grated cheese. Pre grated cheese has a tendency to clump up while freshly grated cheese, melts smoothly into the sauce.
- A squeeze of lemon and some fresh ground pepper at the end make this dish super delish!
STORAGE & REHEATING
Leftovers: You can store leftovers right in the pan with a tight-fitting lid, in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, just add a splash of cream or chicken stock to the pan and heat it over medium heat until warmed through.
You can also store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat in the microwave on full power for a minute or so. Adding a splash of chicken stock helps loosen the sauce and makes it creamy again.
Freezing: You can freeze leftovers in a freezer bag or freezer safe, air tight container. To reheat, thaw pasta. Reheat in a pan with a splash of cream and chicken stick to liven up the sauce. Cook 3-4 minutes over medium until heated through.
ADDITIONS & SUBSTITUTIONS
- Vegetarian: You can make this dish vegetarian by ditching the chicken and substituting veggies! Asparagus or broccoli would make great additions. Steam veggies in the microwave for a minute or so until they are crisp tender, then add them into the sauce!
- Keto/Low Carb: Omit the pasta and serve this over zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, or a low carb pasta.
- Heavy Cream: Need a substitute? Check out 15 Substitutes for Heavy Cream here!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Absolutely! Cooked and chopped chicken thighs would be delicious!
A nice, fresh arugula salad and this perfect air fryer garlic bread or Texas toast would be perfect sides for this dish!
Yes, however the sauce doesn’t thicken up quite as well. I would increase the flour to one full tablespoon if you are substituting half and half.
OTHER PASTA RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- CHICKEN PASTA WITH CHIPOTLE CREAM SAUCE
- INSTANT POT CHICKEN PENNE
- CREAMY TAHINI PASTA WITH LEMON AND GARLIC
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Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pasta any noodle or shape!
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken stock or chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream or half and half
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded rotisserie chicken or my baked chicken work great!
- lemon wedges and freshly ground pepper, for serving optional
Instructions
- Begin cooking pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over low heat.
- In the skillet, melt butter. Then add garlic and flour. Stir and cook for one minute.
- Turn the heat up to medium and add chicken stock and cream. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 4-5 minutes until sauce begins to thicken.
- Stir Parmesan cheese and chicken into the sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes until chicken is heated through.
- Drain pasta. Add hot pasta right into the pan a little at a time. Toss with tongs until all pasta is generously coated with the sauce. Add a few squeezes of lemon and freshly ground pepper, if you like!
Sangeetha S says
This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta recipe is making my mouth water! I love how easy it is to make with just a few simple ingredients. And the fact that it’s ready in under 30 minutes makes it perfect for a busy weeknight meal. I can’t wait to try this recipe out!!!
Hayley Dhanecha says
This garlic pasta were amazing, so comforting and easy to make. Added some spinach as i was clearing the fridge.
Kathleen says
I’m all in for this creamy, garlicky, comforting and marvelous pasta!
Beth says
This is a big hit with my family, and I’ve put it in my rotation permanently. All that creamy garlic goodness just can’t be beat!
Chenee says
My entire family loved this. So cheesy and flavorful, too!
Rita says
This was absolutely delicious! I added some steamed broccoli, but otherwise made it as written! Thanks for sharing this comforting dinner.
Marnie says
My family loved this recipe. Perfect addition to my Fall collection! Made a double batch and was gone after lunch the next day.
DiANE says
To save calories I use evaported milk thickened with a tbsp of cornstarch instead of cream.Sometime I leave oout the chicken & add broccoli florets & mushrooms instead. So good!
Casey Rooney says
Yummm! Glad you loved it, Diane! XO ~ Casey
Claudia Lamascolo says
This was a big hit everyone loves this pasta dish and it was an easy recipe I will make again
Kali Alexandria says
My new go-to pasta recipe. The creaminess is everything!!
Kelley says
This was so creamy and delicious! My whole family loved this thank you!
Gina Abernathy says
My family loves this dish! Fantastic flavors!
Janessa says
YUM! This pasta was so delicious- reminded me of the kind of thing I would order from a restaurant!
Caroline says
Such a comforting dish! And easy to make, too.
Roxana says
This was an amazing dinner. So flavor packed and easy. Helpful tips.
Casey Rooney says
Glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to share! XO ~ Casey
Jamie says
Creamy, delicious, and flavorful! My family loved this for pasta night and we’ll be making it again!
Casey Rooney says
So glad you enjoyed it, Jamie! XO ~ Casey
Jessica Formicola says
We had this pasta for dinner tonight and it was AH-mazing! The whole family loved it and we’ll definitely be having it again soon!
Casey Rooney says
So glad your family loved it, Jessica! XO ~ Casey
Sandhya S says
Pasta dinner is always a winner at home with kids. This Garlicky pasta sounds so good, my family would love it.
Casey Rooney says
Same here! We all love pasta! XO ~ Casey
Carrie Robinson says
Now this is my kind of pasta dish! I need to add this to my weekly dinner rotation asap. 🙂
Casey Rooney says
Yay! We love this one, too! XO ~ Casey