Description
A delicious creamy garlic chicken pasta dish made with rotini pasta, chicken breast, and a rich cheese sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound chicken breast, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- Chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Rotini: Start by boiling a large pot of salted water. Add the rotini pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions. Reserve one cup of the starchy pasta water before draining—this will help loosen the cheese sauce later and make it extra creamy.
- Sear the Chicken: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced chicken breast, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until golden brown and fully cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the Garlic Cream Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Stir in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes, forming a light roux. Gradually whisk in the milk, and let it simmer until the sauce thickens—about 4–5 minutes.
- Stir in the Cheese: Lower the heat and add the shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese to the sauce. Stir until melted and smooth. If the sauce feels too thick, gradually mix in the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
- Combine Everything: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, along with the drained rotini pasta. Toss everything together gently so the cheese sauce coats every piece of pasta and chicken.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with extra parmesan and chopped parsley if you’d like, and serve warm. The aroma alone is enough to gather the whole family at the table.
Notes
- This dish is great for a family dinner or a cozy date night at home.
- Feel free to customize the vegetables or proteins based on your preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 100mg