Description
This Cheddar Parmesan Garlic Butter Chicken with Creamy Penne Pasta is the ultimate comfort food dinner! Featuring tender seared chicken, rich garlic butter sauce, sharp cheddar and parmesan, and silky pasta. An easy weeknight recipe bursting with bold cheesy flavor.
Ingredients
1 lb chicken breasts
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
12 oz penne pasta
1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet. Sear chicken for 5–6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove from skillet.
3. Cook penne pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
4. In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic for 1 minute. Add chicken broth and simmer for 2–3 minutes.
5. Stir in heavy cream and bring to a light simmer.
6. Add Parmesan and Cheddar cheese, stirring until melted and smooth. Use reserved pasta water to thin the sauce if needed.
7. Slice chicken and return to skillet along with cooked pasta. Toss everything together and heat for 2 minutes.
8. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Use freshly grated cheese for best melt and flavor.
Don’t overcook the chicken – golden sear and juicy center is key.
Leftover pasta can be revived with a splash of cream or broth when reheating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approx. 1/5 of recipe)
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 135mg