This creamy chicken pasta combines lightly breaded pan-fried chicken breasts with pasta in a lightly seasoned velvety Parmesan sauce. Enjoy this easy comfort food with a simple salad, vegetable, or soup.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.
- Chicken cutlets: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded to ¼-½ inch thick or split thick chicken breasts in half lengthwise. For more delicious chicken recipes, check out 20 Easy Chicken Recipes.
- Pasta: Fettuccine, linguine, or spaghetti.
- Unsalted butter: If using salted butter, reduce the added salt.
- Italian seasoning: Dried Italian Seasoning or a combination of dried thyme, rosemary, basil, and parsley.
- Chicken broth: Preferably low-sodium
- Heavy cream: You can substitute whipping cream.
- Parmesan cheese: For the best flavor and creamy sauce, use freshly grated Parmesan.
- Fresh herbs: Garnish with chopped fresh thyme, parsley, or rosemary.
How To Make Creamy Chicken Pasta
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Whisk the flour, salt, and pepper in a wide shallow bowl. Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture.
- Pan-fry the chicken until golden brown and cooked through. Plate the chicken.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve one cup of pasta water. Drain well.
- Melt the butter in the skillet over low heat. Add the garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for a minute while stirring.
- Sprinkle the flour and continue whisking and stirring for a couple of minutes. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and cream.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese. Add the pasta and toss to coat.
- Garnish with fresh herbs, season with salt and pepper to taste. Slice the chicken and add it to the pasta.
Preparation Tips For Success
- Chicken is cooked through when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Use an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken breast.
- Once drained, spread the pasta on a baking sheet instead of leaving it in the colander. It works much better. It does not stick as much to itself, and it is easier to manage.
- Don’t throw all the pasta water down the drain. Reserve some for thinning the sauce. If you are in the habit of always forgetting this, then simply put a large bowl under your colander. Store a small amount of pasta water in a sealed mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days for reheating leftovers.
- The sauce will thicken upon standing. Add a small amount of pasta water or low-sodium chicken broth to thin the sauce. Only add a couple of tablespoons at a time.
Serving Suggestions
- Salad: Olive Garden copycat salad, Italian salad, or spring mix salad.
- Soup: French onion soup, minestrone, or Italian wedding soup.
- Vegetables: roasted Brussels sprouts, sauteed green beans, or oven-roasted asparagus.
More Pasta Recipes
Creamy Chicken Pasta
This creamy chicken pasta combines lightly breaded pan-fried chicken breasts with pasta in a lightly seasoned velvety Parmesan sauce.
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Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 655kcal
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 chicken cutlets
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 8 ounces linguine, fettucine, or spaghetti
Creamy Parmesan Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1¼-1½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- chopped fresh thyme
- salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, salt, and pepper in a wide shallow bowl. Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken until brown on both sides and cooked through.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted boiling water to a boil. Cook the pasta al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain well.
- Melt the butter in the skillet over low heat. Add the garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for 1 minute while stirring.
- Sprinkle the flour over the garlic and herbs and continue whisking and stirring for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and cream, alternating between the two.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add the pasta and toss to coat. Garnish with fresh thyme, season with salt and pepper to taste. Slice the chicken and add it to the pasta right before serving.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power.
Nutrition
Calories: 655kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 646mg | Potassium: 268mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1309IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 235mg | Iron: 2mg
Did You Make This Recipe?Mention @smalltownwomanfoodnut or tag #smalltownwomanfoodnut!
Melissa
Your creamy chicken pasta was a delightfully tasty comfort dish that everyone loved. Kudos to you for a great recipe.
Jerry
This recipe is the definition of comfort food! Crispy, golden chicken paired with a velvety Parmesan cream sauce was such a satisfying combination. Thanks so much for all the great recipes!
Barbie
I really love a great chicken pasta dish. This was hands down a great one. I am holding on to this for rotation.
Claire
This is so good. We tried it yesterday, and the kids finished their plates with no trouble at all. We used linguine for a change, and it turned out perfect. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Claire!
Lisa
OMGoodness, I love making this dish, my daughter made it just the other day and it was so creamy and good. It’s a good hearty dish and so easy to make.
Beth Pierce
Thank you! I am glad that you and your daughter enjoyed it.
Yonca Nihal
My son loves creamy pasta sauces—I used to make them all the time until he moved out. For chicken and pasta lovers, this recipe is a lifesaver. It was absolutely mouthwatering.
Ebony
What a beautiful dish. The creamy sauce and tender chicken were such a perfect combination, and the ultimate comfort meal. Thank you for sharing!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Ebony!
Kat
Pounding the chicken to that specific thickness is a game changer for even cooking. Freshly grated cheese makes the sauce way better than the bottled stuff. This looks like a perfect meal for a busy evening.
nicole
Personally, I love this recipe. So darn delicious and easy to make.
khoingn
This looks so rich and comforting, perfect for a satisfying meal at home. I love recipes like this that are simple but feel a little indulgent.