Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta

Posted by by Sara 1 year Ago 133 Views

Ingredients:

For the Chicken Bites:

  • 1 lb (450g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

For the Creamy Parmesan Pasta:

  • 8 oz (225g) pasta (fettuccine, spaghetti, or penne work well)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • Extra Parmesan cheese (for topping)

Instructions:

For the Garlic Butter Chicken Bites:

  1. Cook the chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken cubes and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  2. Make the garlic butter sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
  3. Combine chicken with garlic butter: Return the chicken to the skillet and toss it in the garlic butter mixture. Add the red pepper flakes if desired. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, letting the chicken absorb the flavor of the garlic butter. Garnish with fresh parsley and set aside.

For the Creamy Parmesan Pasta:

  1. Cook the pasta: While the chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water. Set aside.
  2. Make the creamy Parmesan sauce: In the same skillet used for the chicken, add the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  3. Add the cheese and seasonings: Stir in the Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer for 3-5 minutes, allowing it to thicken.
  4. Combine pasta with sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the creamy Parmesan sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.

Final Assembly:

  1. Combine: Add the garlic butter chicken bites to the pasta, stirring gently to combine everything.
  2. Serve: Plate the creamy Parmesan pasta with chicken bites on top. Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Tips:

  • For added richness: You can stir in a little more butter or even a splash of white wine to the sauce for a deeper flavor.
  • To make it healthier: Swap the heavy cream with half-and-half or use a lower-fat version of Parmesan cheese.
  • For extra veggies: Sauté spinach, mushrooms, or broccoli in the same skillet before adding the cream to the sauce for a veggie-packed version.

Nutrition (per serving, based on 4 servings):

  • Calories: 600-700
  • Protein: 40g
  • Carbs: 50g
  • Fat: 35g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Sugar: 5g