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When you want to whip up restaurant-quality pasta at home, this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta recipe delivers! Made entirely on the stovetop, it is the perfect weeknight go-to for a quick and flavor-packed meal. Best of all, it fills your kitchen with the cozy aroma of garlicky goodness.

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta combines tender chicken, al dente pasta, and a rich, garlicky cream cheese parmesan sauce.

With just a few simple ingredients you'll have a meal that's both comforting and indulgent.

Add a simple salad and garlic bread and you’ve got a weeknight dinner that will have your family begging for more.

Photo of penne pasta, chicken breast, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, avocado oil, butter, garlic, flour, half and half, cream cheese, and parmesan.

Let's Talk Ingredients

I usually grab penne for this one, but any short pasta works. Think rigatoni, ziti, or rotini—whatever’s hanging out in your pantry. If you need it gluten-free, just swap both the pasta and the flour.

When it comes to oil, use one that can take the heat. I reach for avocado oil, but skip extra virgin olive oil—it tends to smoke before the magic happens.

Full-fat cream cheese is what gives this its luscious texture. Don’t skimp—it’s worth the time on the treadmill.

Freshly grated Parmesan is the way to go. The pre-grated stuff just doesn’t melt the same or taste nearly as good.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Penne pasta cooking. — Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous amount of salt and cook the pasta following the package directions. Set a bowl under a strainer and drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.

Seasoned chicken on a white plate. — Pat the chicken dry, sprinkle with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt, then refrigerate overnight or proceed immediately.

Chicken that has just been added to a skillet to cook. — Heat a large skillet to medium-high. Add oil and cook the chicken for 4 minutes per side.

Chicken being seared in a skillet. — When cooked through, remove, dice, and set aside.

Flour sprinkled over butter and pan drippings. — Lower to medium heat, melt butter in the pan, add garlic, and stir for 30 seconds. Whisk in flour for 2 minutes.

A cream sauce with cream cheese. — Pour in half and half, whisk, then add cream cheese, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes until smooth.

Garlic parmesan sauce in a skillet. — Stir in ½ cup reserved pasta water to adjust the consistency of the garlic parmesan sauce.

Parmesan cheese added to the top of a garlic cream sauce. — Reduce heat to medium-low, add parmesan, and cook for 3 minutes,

A Garlic parmesan cream sauce done and ready for the pasta nad chicken. — Add more pasta water as needed, until you have the perfect consistency.

Pasta and chicken added to a garlic parmesan sauce in a skillet. — Add chicken and cooked pasta to the pan. Garnish with extra parmesan and parsley, then serve warm.

Tips and Tricks

If the sauce becomes too thick, slowly add more reserved pasta water until you reach the desired consistency. The water has starches from the pasta and is a great addition, but if you forgot and tossed it out, chicken broth could be used.
Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking before dicing to ensure it stays juicy.
Adjust the amount of garlic to suit your taste—more for a bolder flavor or less for a milder dish.
Make sure not to overcook the pasta; it should be al dente to hold up well with the creamy sauce.
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.