Description
Succulent Creamy Parmesan Chicken Bites melt perfectly with garlic butter pasta, creating a luxurious dinner experience. Quick preparation meets restaurant-quality flavor, promising delightful comfort for anyone craving sophisticated yet simple home cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 lb (0.45 kg) chicken breast, cubed
Cheese and Dairy:
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
Pasta and Seasonings:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (penne or rotini preferred)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta in a generously salted pot of water, cooking until perfectly tender yet firm. Carefully drain, reserving a small amount of starchy liquid for later use, and set the pasta aside.
- Heat a skillet with butter, allowing it to melt and shimmer. Introduce minced garlic, stirring quickly to release its aromatic essence without scorching.
- Add cubed chicken pieces to the fragrant butter, allowing them to develop a golden exterior while ensuring complete internal cooking. The chicken should transform into succulent, crispy morsels with a rich, caramelized surface.
- Remove the perfectly cooked chicken from the skillet, keeping it warm and ready for the next stage of preparation.
- In the same pan, melt additional butter and create a luxurious sauce by incorporating heavy cream and finely grated Parmesan. Whisk continuously, allowing the mixture to thicken and develop a silky smooth consistency.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper, adjusting the flavor profile to your personal preference.
- Reunite the cooked pasta with the creamy sauce, gently folding to ensure each strand is elegantly coated. If the sauce appears too dense, introduce reserved pasta water to achieve a perfect, velvety texture.
- Reintroduce the golden chicken bites into the pasta, carefully mixing to distribute the flavors evenly throughout the dish.
- Elevate the presentation by sprinkling freshly chopped basil and an additional flourish of Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while the dish remains piping hot and incredibly inviting.
Notes
- Quick and easy weeknight dinner that comes together in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy families.
- Creamy Parmesan sauce transforms simple chicken and pasta into a restaurant-quality meal with minimal effort.
- Reserve pasta water as a secret weapon to control sauce consistency and add silky texture to the dish.
- Cooking chicken at the right temperature ensures juicy, golden bites without drying out the meat.
- Fresh basil and extra Parmesan cheese elevate the flavor profile, adding brightness and depth to the final presentation.
- One-skillet method means less cleanup and maximum flavor development by using the same pan for each cooking stage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg