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Comfort Chicken Pasta with Smoky Garlic Butter Flavors

This comforting chicken pasta recipe features tender chicken and al dente pasta coated in a rich smoky garlic butter sauce that comes together in under 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, the dish combines simple ingredients with perfectly balanced seasonings for an irresistible smoky flavor without complicated techniques.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 580
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 12 oz pasta (linguine, fettuccine, or penne work well)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions in a large pot of salted water. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  3. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
  4. Add smoked paprika, onion powder, and optional cayenne pepper to the butter. Stir for 30 seconds to toast the spices.
  5. Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  6. Add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
  7. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet along with the drained pasta. Toss everything together until well coated in the smoky garlic butter sauce.
  8. Stir in fresh parsley and serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese on top.

Notes

Cook pasta al dente since it continues cooking in the sauce. Reserve pasta water to help sauce cling better. Cut chicken into uniform pieces for even cooking. Pat chicken dry before seasoning for better sear. Add more broth or pasta water if sauce becomes too thick.