Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 lb 450g boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Pasta
- 8 oz 225g fettuccine or pasta of choice
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg optional, for depth
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken:In a medium bowl, season the chicken pieces with paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken bites and cook for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove from skillet and set aside.In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and stir in the minced garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Return the chicken to the skillet, toss to coat in the garlic butter, then remove from heat and keep warm.
- Cook the Pasta:Cook the pasta according to package instructions in salted boiling water. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- Make the Creamy Parmesan Sauce:In a large saucepan or the same skillet (wiped clean), melt butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Add Parmesan cheese and whisk until melted and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.Season the sauce with nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Combine and Serve:Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until fully coated.Plate the pasta and top with the garlic butter chicken bites.Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.