Description
This Cheesy Rotini with Garlic Parmesan Chicken is a creamy, flavor-packed pasta dinner that combines golden-seared garlic chicken bites with rotini tossed in a rich parmesan sauce. It’s a cozy comfort meal perfect for weeknights or gatherings, made in under an hour!
Ingredients
12 oz rotini pasta
1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter (plus extra if needed)
1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon chopped parsley (fresh or dried)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup reserved pasta water (optional for thinning sauce)
Instructions
1. Cut chicken into chunks and season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika.
2. Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken for 6–8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Set aside.
3. Boil rotini in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
4. In the same skillet, melt a bit more butter and sauté minced garlic until fragrant.
5. Add cream and simmer gently for 2–3 minutes.
6. Stir in grated parmesan until melted and smooth.
7. Add cooked rotini and reserved pasta water as needed to thin sauce.
8. Return chicken to pan and stir everything together.
9. Sprinkle with parsley and additional parmesan before serving.
Notes
If using pre-cooked chicken, skip the searing and add it during the final stir-in.
To reheat, add a splash of milk or cream to revive the sauce.
For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 37g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, garlic chicken, parmesan rotini