This chicken pasta recipe is a quick and easy dish that looks special but comes together fast. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner. [Photos by Kim Gehling]

I love a 20-minute meal that my family actually gets excited about. On busy evenings, those are the recipes that make it into our regular rotation. This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is one of those dinners that feels special but comes together faster than you would expect.

At first glance, it seems like the kind of dish you would order at a restaurant or save for a weekend. But once you start cooking, you realize how simple it really is. While the pasta boils, the chicken cooks quickly in a skillet, and the sauce comes together in just a few minutes with ingredients you likely already have on hand.

The flavor is rich and comforting without being too heavy. The garlic adds a warm, savory base, while the Parmesan melts into the cream to create a smooth, velvety sauce that coats every piece of pasta. Each bite is creamy, a little cheesy, and full of that classic Italian-inspired flavor that most families enjoy.

If you have vegetables in the fridge that need to be used, they fit right in. Broccoli, spinach, or mushrooms all work well and can be added without much extra effort. It is a great way to enhance the meal and add a little color to the plate.

This is the kind of dinner that works just as well for a weeknight as it does for sharing with friends. It is simple, filling, and dependable. Once you make it, there is a good chance it will become a regular at your table too.

From our kitchen to yours — enjoy!

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Serves 5-6

Ingredients

1 lb. pasta (penne, bowtie, rotini, or fettuccine)
1.5 lbs. chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
3 T. butter
1 T. olive oil
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 c. heavy cream
8 oz. grated Parmesan cheese
¾ t. salt
¾ t. black pepper
1 t. Italian seasoning (optional)
2-3 T. chopped or dried parsley (optional)
Optional: ¼ cup pasta water if sauce needs thinning

Instructions

–Cook pasta in salted boiling water. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water, then drain.
–Cook chicken in olive oil with salt and pepper for 6-8 minutes. ——-Remove and set aside.
–Melt butter in the same skillet and cook garlic for 1 minute.
–Add cream and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
–Stir in Parmesan until smooth.
–Return pasta and chicken to the skillet and toss to coat.
–Adjust seasoning and add pasta water if needed.
–Garnish with parsley before serving.