Garlic Parmesan Chicken Spaghetti
Creamy garlic Parmesan chicken spaghetti ready in 35 minutes! Tender chicken, al dente pasta, and rich cheese sauce make this easy dinner recipe a family favorite.
Equipment
- large pot
- colander or strainer
- large skillet
- cutting board
- knife
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
- whisk
- mixing bowl
- spatula
Ingredients
Pasta and Chicken
- 12 ounces dry spaghetti
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tsp kosher salt divided
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
- 0.25 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti according to package directions in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water, then set both aside.
- While the pasta cooks, season the cubed chicken evenly with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and the black pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Sprinkle the flour over the butter and garlic and whisk continuously for 1 minute to form a paste, which is called a roux.
- Slowly pour in the milk and heavy cream while whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until it has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add the cooked spaghetti, reserved chicken, and chopped parsley to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together until well combined, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.
Notes
Reserve some starchy pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.