This delightful dish brings together garlic butter chicken bites with a creamy Parmesan pasta, ideal for a snug evening meal. With simple ingredients and minimal cooking time, it's perfect for a cozy night in. Bite-sized chicken is sautéed to golden perfection, coated in a fragrant garlic butter sauce, and served over a luscious, rich pasta with Parmesan. Garnish with fresh parsley and a drizzle of extra garlic butter for a flavorful touch. It's a quick meal that feels indulgent and satisfying, ideal for busy weeknights or a comforting weekend dinner.
This recipe for Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta is a delicious fusion of classic comfort food and Italian-American flavors. The rich garlic butter sauce complements the tender, bite-sized chicken, while the creamy Parmesan pasta provides the perfect, indulgent base. It’s a dish that delivers on both flavor and simplicity, making it ideal for weeknight dinners or a cozy meal with friends.
INGREDIENTS
- Chicken breasts, boneless, skinless: 1 lb, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons, for frying the chicken
- Butter, unsalted: 4 tablespoons, for the garlic butter sauce
- Garlic: 4 cloves, minced, to flavor the dish
- Salt and pepper: to taste
- Italian seasoning: 1 teaspoon, for seasoning the chicken
- Parsley, fresh: chopped, for garnish
- Fettuccine: 12 oz, or any preferred pasta
- Butter: 2 tablespoons, for the creamy sauce
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced, for the cream sauce
- Heavy cream: 1 cup, for the creamy pasta sauce
- Parmesan cheese, grated: 1 cup, to thicken and flavor the sauce
- Chicken broth: 1/2 cup, to add depth to the cream sauce
- Salt and pepper: to taste, for the sauce
- Extra garlic butter: optional, for drizzling over the final dish
INSTRUCTIONS
- Step 1:
- Boil a large pot of salted water, cook the pasta until tender, then drain and set aside.
- Step 2:
- In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and cook the chicken pieces, seasoning them with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Step 3:
- After the chicken turns golden, remove from the pan and set aside.
- Step 4:
- Melt butter in the pan, sauté garlic, then return the chicken to coat in the garlic butter sauce.
- Step 5:
- In another pan, make the creamy sauce by sautéing garlic in butter, adding heavy cream and chicken broth, and whisking in Parmesan until smooth.
- Step 6:
- Toss the cooked pasta in the sauce, then plate the pasta and top with garlic butter chicken bites.
Serving and Storage Tips
- Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
- If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat gently to avoid drying out the sauce.
Helpful Notes
- For extra flavor, drizzle additional garlic butter over the dish before serving.
- Feel free to substitute the fettuccine with any pasta you prefer, such as spaghetti or penne.
Tips from Well-Known Chefs
- Chef Mario Batali suggests always using fresh Parmesan for a richer sauce.
- Chef Ina Garten recommends adding a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten the garlic butter chicken.
Summary
This recipe for Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta offers the perfect blend of rich, savory flavors and creamy textures. Tender chicken bites are pan-seared until golden, then tossed in a fragrant garlic butter sauce, creating a deliciously savory base. Meanwhile, fettuccine or your preferred pasta is coated in a rich Parmesan cream sauce. The dish is simple yet indulgent, perfect for a quick, hearty dinner that feels luxurious without being difficult to prepare. Garnish with fresh parsley and, for those who love extra richness, drizzle with more garlic butter.