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Smoky Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta: The Ultimate Comfort Food Dinner

This smoky garlic butter chicken pasta brings together rich buttery flavors with perfectly seasoned chicken in an easy skillet meal perfect for weeknights. Ready in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup, it delivers restaurant-quality results that satisfy comfort food cravings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 580
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 12 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or bowtie work well)
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  4. Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese to the skillet, stirring until cheese melts and sauce thickens slightly. Return chicken to the skillet along with cooked pasta. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired sauce consistency.
  5. Stir in fresh parsley and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese for sprinkling.

Notes

Don't overcook the garlic (1-2 minutes maximum to avoid bitterness). Reserve pasta water for perfect sauce consistency. Season as you go and taste before serving.