Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ pounds chicken breasts boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- Salt for the pasta water
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of red pepper flakes optional
- 1¼ cups parmesan cheese freshly grated
- ½ cup reserved pasta water as needed
- Fresh parsley chopped
- additional parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- While the pasta cooks, season the chicken with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika, and garlic powder. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium. In the same skillet, melt the butter and add the garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually pour in the milk and heavy cream, whisking constantly until smooth. Add the Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 3–5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce begins to thicken. Remove from the heat and whisk in the Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and add the drained pasta. Toss until everything is evenly coated with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, stir in the reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
Using freshly grated Parmesan cheese enhances the flavor.
Feel free to modify seasonings according to your preference for spice or flavor intensity.
This dish works well with various types of pasta; penne is just one option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 740
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 944mg
- Fat: 47g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 172mg