🍝 Creamy Garlic Chicken & Penne
A rich, creamy pasta dish with tender chicken, loads of garlic, and a silky sauce—perfect for weeknight dinners or special meals.
⏱ Time
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Prep: 10 minutes
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Cook: 25 minutes
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Total: ~35 minutes
🍽 Serves
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3–4 people
🧾 Ingredients
Pasta & Chicken
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300 g (10 oz) penne pasta
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2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced
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2 tbsp olive oil
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Salt & black pepper, to taste
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1 tsp paprika (optional)
Creamy Garlic Sauce
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2 tbsp butter
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5–6 garlic cloves, minced
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1 cup heavy cream
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½ cup chicken broth
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½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
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½ tsp Italian seasoning
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Optional:
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Red chili flakes
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Fresh parsley (for garnish)
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👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the Pasta
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Boil penne in salted water until al dente
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Reserve ½ cup pasta water
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Drain and set aside
2️⃣ Cook the Chicken
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Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika
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Heat olive oil in a large pan
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Cook chicken until golden and fully cooked (5–6 minutes)
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Remove and set aside
3️⃣ Make the Garlic Cream Sauce
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In the same pan, melt butter
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Add minced garlic and sauté 30 seconds (don’t burn)
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Pour in chicken broth, simmer 2 minutes
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Add cream, Italian seasoning, and chili flakes (optional)
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Simmer gently until slightly thickened
4️⃣ Combine
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Stir in Parmesan cheese until smooth
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Add cooked chicken and penne
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Toss well, adding pasta water if needed for a silky sauce
5️⃣ Serve
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Taste and adjust seasoning
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Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan
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Serve hot 🍽️
❓ Q & A
❓ Can I use milk instead of cream?
Yes, but the sauce will be thinner. Use whole milk and add:
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1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water
to help thicken.
❓ Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. Store in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove with a splash of milk or broth.
❓ What other pasta can I use?
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Fettuccine
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Rigatoni
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Farfalle
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Spaghetti
❓ Can I add vegetables?
Absolutely! Great additions:
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Mushrooms
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Spinach
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Broccoli
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Sun-dried tomatoes
❓ Why did my sauce split or look oily?
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Heat was too high
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Cheese added too fast
💡 Tip: Lower heat before adding cream and Parmesan.
❓ Can I make it lighter?
Yes:
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Use half-and-half
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Reduce cheese slightly
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Add extra broth
❓ Is this freezer-friendly?
Not ideal. Cream sauces can separate when frozen.
❓ How do I make it spicy?
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Add more chili flakes
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Stir in a little chili oil or hot sauce