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Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta

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Warm, garlicky, and utterly comforting, this Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta features tender seared chicken and a silky garlic butter sauce, perfect for weeknight meals.

Ingredients

  • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper
  • All-purpose flour (optional)
  • Unsalted butter
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Fresh garlic (4–6 cloves, minced)
  • Yellow onion or shallots (finely diced, optional)
  • Dry pasta (linguine, fettuccine, or penne)
  • Chicken stock or low-sodium broth
  • Heavy cream or half-and-half (optional)
  • Fresh parsley, thyme, or basil (chopped)
  • Lemon zest and juice
  • Grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
  • Mushrooms (optional, cremini or baby bella)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the pasta and mise en place by chopping the garlic, measuring the butter, and patting the chicken dry. If using flour, lightly dust each piece of chicken and shake off excess.
  2. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until just shy of al dente; drain and reserve a cup of pasta water.
  3. Season the chicken with kosher salt and black pepper, then heat a skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 4 to 6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
  4. Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest on a plate for a few minutes, then slice or chop as desired.
  5. In the same skillet, lower the heat, melt the butter, and sauté the onion or shallots until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
  6. Deglaze the skillet with chicken stock, scraping up any brown bits. Stir in the remaining butter and cream if using; simmer gently to thicken.
  7. Combine the drained pasta and sliced chicken in the skillet, tossing to coat.
  8. Stir in the grated cheese and chopped herbs. Finish with lemon zest and juice, adjusting seasoning as needed.
  9. Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and cheese if desired.

Notes

Use high heat to get a good sear on the chicken and reserve pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency.

Nutrition

Keywords: Garlic Butter, Chicken Pasta, Quick Dinner, Comfort Food, Weeknight Meals

Find it online: https://swifttasty.com/garlic-butter-chicken-pasta-2/