Silky, satisfying, restaurant-style comfort in under 30 minutes
This Quick Creamy Chicken Pasta delivers everything you crave in a cozy pasta dish: tender seasoned chicken, perfectly cooked linguine, and a rich, velvety garlic cream sauce that clings beautifully to every strand. It’s an easy healthy recipe that also makes the perfect fall dinner idea, thanks to its warmth, creaminess, and unbeatable weeknight convenience. Simple ingredients come together in one skillet for a fast, flavorful meal your whole family will love.
⏱️ Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 4
📝 Ingredients
- 8 oz (226 g) dry linguine
- 1/2 cup (63 g) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon table salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 heaping teaspoon smoked paprika
- Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 lb (453 g) chicken breast, cut into 4 portions
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup (140 g) finely chopped yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 1/3 cups (315 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (236 ml) heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup (22 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress free.
- Large skillet
- Large pot for pasta
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Tongs
Step by Step Beginner Friendly Instructions
- Begin cooking the linguine in heavily salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Place flour in a shallow dish. In a separate dish, combine 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne.
- Season chicken with the spice mixture, rubbing it evenly over the surface, then dredge each piece lightly in the flour.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken, spacing pieces apart. Cook 2–3 minutes until browned, flip, and cook until fully cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate. 🔥
- Add onion to the skillet. Cook 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Slowly pour in the chicken broth while scraping up any browned bits. Add heavy cream, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and Italian seasoning. Stir well.
- Bring sauce to a gentle simmer and add Parmesan. Stir until melted and the sauce thickens slightly. 😍
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet along with the chicken (slice the chicken if preferred). Stir well and simmer until everything is warmed through and the sauce coats the pasta beautifully.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving. 🌿
💡 Pro Tips
- Browning the chicken adds depth and richness to the sauce.
- Add spinach, peas, or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor and color.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest, silkiest sauce.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of broth to loosen it.
- For added heat, increase cayenne or sprinkle crushed red pepper over the top.
📊 Nutrition Table (Estimated)
| Serving Size | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Fiber | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 plate | ~520 | 34g | 45g | 22g | 3g | 4g |
🍽️ Conclusion
This Quick Creamy Chicken Pasta offers the perfect blend of speed, comfort, and luxurious flavor. With its tender chicken, fragrant spices, and luscious cream sauce, it’s a go-to meal for busy nights when you still want something truly satisfying. Add it to your weekly rotation and enjoy every creamy, cozy bite!
Quick Creamy Chicken Pasta
This Quick Creamy Chicken Pasta delivers tender seasoned chicken, linguine, and a rich garlic cream sauce in just 30 minutes, making it a perfect cozy meal for the whole family.
Ingredients
Pasta ingredients
- 8 oz dry linguine
Seasoning and coating
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon table salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 heaping teaspoon smoked paprika
- Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
Main ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into 4 portions
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 1/3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Pasta Preparation
- Begin cooking the linguine in heavily salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Preparing Chicken
- Place flour in a shallow dish. In a separate dish, combine 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne.
- Season chicken with the spice mixture, rubbing it evenly over the surface, then dredge each piece lightly in the flour.
Cooking Chicken
- Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken, spacing pieces apart. Cook 2–3 minutes until browned, flip, and cook until fully cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate.
Making the Sauce
- Add onion to the skillet. Cook 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Slowly pour in the chicken broth while scraping up any browned bits. Add heavy cream, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and Italian seasoning. Stir well.
- Bring sauce to a gentle simmer and add Parmesan. Stir until melted and the sauce thickens slightly.
Combining Ingredients
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet along with the chicken (slice the chicken if preferred). Stir well and simmer until everything is warmed through and the sauce coats the pasta beautifully.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
Browning the chicken adds depth and richness to the sauce. Add spinach, peas, or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor and color. Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest, silkiest sauce. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of broth to loosen it. For added heat, increase cayenne or sprinkle crushed red pepper over the top.