Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe for a Healthy Dinner

Introduction

Craving a restaurant-worthy meal without the hassle? This Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta delivers bold flavors, a creamy texture, and nourishing ingredients—all in under 30 minutes. It’s a fantastic choice for busy weeknights or impressing guests, combining tender chicken, al dente pasta, fresh garlic, and a light Parmesan sauce. Simple, satisfying, and secretly healthy, this recipe hits all the right notes for a balanced dinner.

Irresistibly Flavorful Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

This dish stands out for its hearty yet wholesome profile. Garlic infuses every bite, while Parmesan gives the sauce richness without overwhelming heaviness. Lean chicken breast boosts the protein content, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs ties everything together. Serve this pasta as a main course that feels indulgent but doesn’t derail your healthy eating goals.

The Secret to Healthy Creaminess

The sauce is made lighter by blending milk or broth with Parmesan, adding a silky finish without the need for heavy cream. Using whole grain or protein-packed pasta further increases the nutritional value. Sautéing fresh garlic in olive oil releases robust flavor, elevating the chicken and sauce with very little added fat.

How to Perfectly Cook Your Chicken and Pasta

For moist, flavorful chicken, sear pieces until golden before simmering them briefly in the sauce. Cook pasta just until al dente for the best texture. Toss everything together while the sauce is warm, letting it cling to every strand. For extra nutrition, stir in a few handfuls of fresh spinach or cherry tomatoes just before serving.

Healthy Dinner Serving Suggestions

Pair your Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta with a side salad or roasted vegetables to create a complete and balanced meal. Freshly cracked black pepper and an extra dusting of Parmesan add the final flourish. This Pasta is equally at home as a speedy weeknight meal or the star of a cozy dinner party.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe makes approximately 4 generous servings, each providing about 400–450 calories, 35g protein, and healthy fats from olive oil. Using whole grain pasta and lean chicken breast helps keep this dish light without sacrificing satisfaction.

Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta (Recap)

With its creamy texture, robust garlic flavor, and lean protein, this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a meal you’ll want to make again and again. It’s deliciously simple, healthy, and a surefire crowd-pleaser.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly create an organized shopping list with all your ingredients sorted by grocery store section—making meal planning and grocery trips faster and stress-free.

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, half the salt, and Italian herbs. Sauté until cooked through and lightly golden, 5–7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, add the remaining olive oil and sauté garlic for 1–2 minutes, until fragrant but not browned.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour in milk (or broth) and bring to a gentle simmer.
5. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, whisking until melted and the sauce is slightly thickened.
6. Return chicken to the pan, add pasta, and toss until evenly coated. For added veggies, stir in spinach or tomatoes now and cook until just wilted.
7. Taste and adjust salt and black pepper as needed. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta makes meal prep swift, healthy, and satisfying. Save and schedule this recipe for the week ahead and generate an intelligent shopping list that combines all ingredients from your weekly plans.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across multiple recipes
• Creates easy-to-follow shopping lists sorted by grocery store aisles for speed
• Eliminates duplicates and forgotten ingredients, reducing food waste
• Makes weekly meal prep streamlined and stress-free

Pro tip: Schedule your weekly recipes to see overlapped ingredients—CookifyAI will sum the total (like chicken, garlic, or Parmesan) so you’ll always have the right amount on hand.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15–20 minutes
Total Time: 25–30 minutes