30-Minute Dinners: Fast & Flavorful Meals
A rich and speedy pasta dish featuring tender chicken and a luscious garlic-Parmesan cream sauce, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 8 oz fettuccine or spaghetti
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1.5 cup heavy cream
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Season chicken cubes with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
- Add cooked pasta and chicken to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly with the sauce. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
For variations, try substituting the chicken with pan-seared salmon for a quick seafood option, or swap the cream sauce for a coconut milk and red curry paste base with shrimp and vegetables for a Thai-inspired meal.