Description
A comforting blend of seared chicken, garlic, and buttery pasta, perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- All-purpose flour (optional)
- Unsalted butter (real butter recommended)
- 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
- Prepare the pasta and mise en place: chop garlic, measure butter, and pat chicken dry.
- Cook the pasta in well-salted boiling water until just shy of al dente, drain, and reserve a cup of pasta water.
- Season and sear the chicken: Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, heat olive oil in a skillet, and sear chicken until cooked through.
- Remove chicken, let rest for a few minutes, then slice or cube.
- Build the sauce: Lower heat, add butter, sauté shallots or onions, add minced garlic.
- Deglaze with chicken stock, simmer, then stir in remaining butter to emulsify the sauce.
- If desired, add heavy cream and simmer until slightly reduced.
- Combine pasta and chicken in the skillet, tossing with reserved pasta water until sauce clings to noodles.
- Stir in grated Parmesan and herbs, finish with a squeeze of lemon and black pepper.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and Parmesan.
Notes
Use fresh garlic for best flavor. Reserve pasta water for sauce thickness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: pasta, chicken, garlic, butter, easy recipes, family dinner
