Chicken Pasta Recipes Easy Quick Dinner Garlic Butter

So you’re scrolling through TikTok, feeling hungry, and realizing you have like, zero energy for anything complicated? Welcome to the club, friend. We’ve all been there. You want something delicious, something comforting, but the thought of spending an hour chopping and stirring just makes you want to order takeout and call it a day.

Good news: I’ve got your back with a chicken pasta recipe that’s so easy, your dog could probably make it (if they had opposable thumbs and a sense of culinary adventure). Get ready for the Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta of your dreams – quick, simple, and utterly addictive.

Why This Recipe is Awesome

Seriously, this isn’t just another ‘easy’ recipe. This is ‘I-just-binged-three-seasons-of-a-show-and-now-it’s-8-PM-and-I’m-starving’ easy. It’s the kind of meal that comes together faster than your internet loads on a bad day. We’re talking minimal effort, maximum flavor. Plus, it involves butter and garlic, which, let’s be honest, are basically the superheroes of the culinary world. It’s fast enough for a weeknight, satisfying enough for a lazy weekend, and tastes way more gourmet than the effort required. **You’re welcome.**

Ingredients You’ll Need

Gather your troops! These are the essentials for your garlic butter chicken pasta adventure:

• Chicken Breast: About 1 lb (roughly 2 large breasts). The humble hero. Boneless, skinless, because who has time for bones? We’re going for efficiency here.
• Pasta: 8 oz (about half a box). Your favorite shape! Penne, spaghetti, rotini… whatever calls to your carb-loving soul.
• Butter: 4 tablespoons. The good stuff. Don’t skimp, your taste buds will revolt. Trust me on this.
• Garlic: 4-6 cloves, minced. Like, a lot. Seriously. Minced, because nobody wants a raw garlic chunk surprise.
• Chicken Broth: ½ cup. Adds depth. Or water, if you’re feeling rebellious (but broth is better, IMO).
• Parmesan Cheese: ½ cup, grated. The sprinkle of magic. Freshly grated, if you’re feeling fancy and want to show off.
• Fresh Parsley: ¼ cup, chopped. For a pop of color and a hint of freshness. Also makes you look like a pro chef.
• Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon. Just a drizzle, for browning the chicken.
• Salt & Pepper: To taste, naturally. The basics, but oh-so-important.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Ready to get cooking? Let’s do this!

1. Get That Pasta Party Started: Fill a large pot with water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring it to a rolling boil. Add your pasta and cook according to package directions until it’s perfectly al dente. Before draining, **reserve about ½ cup of that starchy pasta water**. It’s liquid gold for your sauce, trust me! Drain the rest and set aside.
2. Chop-Chop Chicken: While your pasta is doing its thing, grab your chicken breasts. Chop them into bite-sized pieces. Season them generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Don’t be shy!
3. Sizzle the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Add your seasoned chicken pieces and sauté them until they’re beautifully golden brown and cooked all the way through, about 5-7 minutes. Once done, remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate.
4. Hello, Garlic Butter: In the *same* pan (we love less washing, right?), melt the butter over medium heat. Add your minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until it’s super fragrant. **Watch it carefully – garlic goes from perfect to burnt in a blink!**
5. Bring It All Together: Add your cooked chicken back into the pan with the glorious garlic butter. Pour in the chicken broth (or that reserved pasta water!). Let it simmer for just a minute to meld those flavors.
6. Pasta Time!: Toss in your cooked pasta. Sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese and give everything a good stir until the pasta is coated in that luscious garlic butter sauce. If the sauce looks a little too thick, add a tablespoon or two more of that reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
7. Finish with Flair: Stir in the fresh chopped parsley. Give it one last taste test – need more salt? Pepper? Your call, chef! Serve it up immediately and prepare for happy sighs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

We’ve all made them, but let’s try not to today, okay? Learn from my past kitchen mishaps:

• **Burning the Garlic:** This is the cardinal sin. Garlic goes from fragrant and delicious to bitter and sad in a heartbeat. Keep an eye on it, and keep that heat medium. Don’t wander off to check Instagram!
• **Overcooking the Pasta:** Mushy pasta is a crime against humanity. Al dente or bust, people! It should still have a slight bite to it.
• **Forgetting the Reserved Pasta Water:** Seriously, that starchy water is your secret weapon for a silky, emulsified sauce. Don’t just dump it all down the drain! You’ll regret it.
• **Skimping on Seasoning:** Bland food is boring food. Season your chicken, season your pasta water, and taste your sauce. Flavor layers are key!

Alternatives & Substitutions

Feeling adventurous or missing an ingredient? No stress, we can totally adapt this bad boy:

• No Chicken? No Problem! Shrimp is a fantastic swap for the chicken; it cooks even faster! Or, go vegetarian with some sautéed mushrooms and spinach. Your call, boss.
• Veggies, Anyone? Throw in some cherry tomatoes, chopped bell peppers, or a handful of fresh spinach for extra vitamins and color. Cook them with the chicken or toss them in at the end.
• Spice It Up: A pinch of red pepper flakes added with the garlic? **Game changer** if you like a little heat.
• Make it Creamy: For an even richer sauce, stir in a splash (about ¼ cup) of heavy cream or half-and-half at the very end. It takes this from ‘yum’ to ‘OMG, I’m dying and going to heaven’.
• Different Herbs: No parsley? Fresh basil or chives would also be lovely!

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Got questions? I’ve got casual, slightly sarcastic answers:

• Can I use pre-cooked chicken? Absolutely! Just warm it through in the sauce with the garlic. Life’s too short to cook chicken twice.
• What if I don’t have chicken broth? Reserved pasta water is your best friend here! Or just plain water, but broth adds more flavor, FYI.
• Can I make this dairy-free? You can try, but butter and Parmesan are kind of the stars of this show. Vegan butter and nutritional yeast might work for a similar vibe, but it won’t be *quite* the same.
• How long does this last in the fridge? About 3-4 days in an airtight container. But honestly, it’s so good, it usually vanishes before then.
• Can I add other herbs? Totally! Thyme, oregano, basil. Whatever floats your herb-boat. Fresh is usually best, though.
• Can I use jarred minced garlic? Yes, you *can*. But freshly minced garlic makes a HUGE difference in flavor. Just saying. Your taste buds will thank you for the extra 30 seconds of effort.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, folks! A ridiculously easy, unbelievably tasty, and seriously quick chicken pasta that’ll make you feel like a culinary genius without actually trying too hard. This garlic butter chicken pasta is proof that you don’t need fancy ingredients or complicated techniques to whip up something truly special. So go forth and conquer your hunger, you magnificent kitchen wizard! Now go impress someone—or yourself—with your new culinary skills. You’ve earned it!