Garlic Parmesan chicken pasta is a complete dinner done in under 30 minutes! Tender seasoned chicken, spinach, and a garlic butter sauce make it an instant hit.
If you want a quick pasta dinner for a busy weeknight, it doesn’t have to mean dumping a jar of store-bought sauce over spaghetti. This garlic Parmesan chicken pasta has become my go-to lately because it’s easy, but it also delivers much more flavor and satisfaction than a jarred sauce and noodles. With spinach, chicken, and pasta, it’s a complete meal, and the garlic butter sauce is perfection! If you love this one pot pasta with spinach and mushrooms, I think you'll enjoy this recipe too.
Why You’ll Love This Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe
- Restaurant-style at home. This dish has all the flavors and textures of a restaurant-quality meal without the hassle of going out or ordering in. Your whole family will love it!
- Quick and easy to prepare. Garlic Parmesan chicken pasta takes just 25 minutes to make from start to finish, including the prep time!
- Customizable. There’s lots of room to make this recipe your own. Give it a little tweak or two each time you make it and you can put it on the menu every week and no one will get tired of it!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
For the Chicken:
- Chicken breasts – Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts here.
- Seasonings – Salt, ground pepper, and garlic powder.
- Olive oil
- Parmesan
For the Pasta:
- Pasta of choice – Really, anything goes here. I typically prefer a short pasta over long noodles in a dish like this because they make it easier to incorporate the other ingredients evenly.
- Fresh spinach
- Butter – Unsalted or salted both work.
- Parmesan
- Garlic powder – This adds mellow garlicky flavor without the bite of fresh.
How to Make Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Prepare. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cut the chicken into small pieces and toss with the seasonings.
- Cook the chicken. Heat the olive oil in a skillet set over medium-low. Cook the chicken for 10 minutes, browning it on both sides.
- Boil the pasta. Add the pasta to the boiling water; when there’s 1 minute left of cooking, add the spinach. Reserve 1/3 cup of cooking water and drain the rest.
- Finish. Add the pasta and spinach to the skillet with the chicken. Stir in the remaining ingredients, along with a splash or two of the pasta water. Toss to coat, adding more water if needed.
Tips and Variations
- Don’t forget to save the pasta water. It contains starch from the pasta that helps the sauce thicken and cling to the noodles, resulting in a creamier, more flavorful dish.
- Use another green. Kale, chard, or arugula would also work well in this garlic Parmesan chicken pasta. If you add arugula, you don’t need to boil it with the pasta.
- Make it spicy. Add some red pepper flakes to the olive oil before adding the chicken to give this dish a fiery kick. Letting the flakes cook for a minute or so in the oil will infuse it with heat.
- Don’t over-cook the pasta. Al dente is perfect! When you’re making the sauce in the skillet, it will cook a little bit more.
What to Serve With Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
This is a complete meal on its own, but if you want to get a few extra servings out of it or stretch it for another night, pair it with a green salad with my easy vegan Caesar dressing recipe, roasted zucchini, or another vegetable side dish.
How to Store Leftovers
Transfer leftover garlic Parmesan chicken pasta to an airtight container. Refrigerate for 3-4 days. To reheat, place the pasta in a microwave-safe dish and heat it up in the microwave, stirring halfway through the cooking time. Alternatively, you can reheat it on the stove over medium heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or water to bring back some creaminess to the sauce.
Can I Freeze This Recipe?
While you can freeze this recipe, it's not ideal—I find that the texture of pasta is never quite as good after it's frozen. But if you do decide to freeze it, store it in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating according to the instructions above.
More Pasta Dinners
- One Pot Pasta Puttanesca
- Simple Cherry Tomato Pasta
- Creamy Walnut Pasta
- Asparagus Pasta
- Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons parmesan
For the pasta:
- 1 lb pasta of choice
- 3 cups fresh spinach chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup parmesan
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Put 2 quarts of water on the stove to boil.
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and add to a bowl along with the garlic, salt and pepper. Toss the chicken until coated with the spices.
- In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium-low. Add the chicken and cook until done, about 10 minutes. Be sure to flip the pieces halfway through. Remove from the heat once cooked and toss with the parmesan.
- While the chicken is cooking, add the pasta to the boiling water. Cook following the package instructions, adding the spinach with 1 minute left in the cooking process. Before draining, be sure to set aside 1/3 cup of pasta water.
- Once the pasta is al dente, drain it and the spinach, adding them to the skillet with the chicken. Add the butter, parmesan and garlic powder, along with a bit of pasta water. Toss to combine. We want the pasta to feel somewhat saucy, so add additional pasta water until you get that consistency.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition
