Amazing 1-Pot garlic parmesan Joy

Oh, I know that feeling! It’s 5:30 PM, you’re tired from the day, and the last thing you want is a mountain of dishes waiting for you. That’s exactly why I developed this Easy One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta. This recipe is my secret weapon for weeknights when I need serious comfort food flavor without the massive cleanup marathon afterwards. At Pure Cooking Joy, my goal is always to show you that incredible food doesn’t need to be complicated or stressful. This rich, creamy pasta dish proves that even a busy Tuesday meal can feel like a special treat! If you’re always looking for ways to simplify those hectic evenings, you’ll want to check out my tips for mastering weeknight dinner stress.

Why This One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Works for You

I get it—sometimes you just need something fast that tastes like you spent all day simmering a sauce. This recipe is the answer to the busy cook’s prayer! It hits all those comfort notes we love without the drama.

• Speed and Minimal Cleanup: Seriously, it’s a one-pot wonder! With a total time under 35 minutes, this is the perfect definition of Quick Dinner material. You just brown the chicken, toss everything else in the broth, and let it simmer. That means fewer dishes soaking in the sink, which is pure joy for me.
• Unbeatable Garlic Parmesan Flavor Profile: If you love those rich, savory meals that just scream comfort, you are going to adore this. We’re building a wonderfully Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta that feels luxurious. It’s proof that even during the week, you deserve food that feeds your soul, just like the best comfort food favorites.

For more amazing flavor ideas that keep cleanup light, take a look at my easy chicken sausage pasta—another great option for your Weeknight Garlic Parmesan rotation!

SAVE

Gathering Ingredients for Your Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Okay, you can’t make magic without the right tools, right? The great news here is that most of this is pantry stuff—things I always try to keep stocked so I can whip this up whenever a craving hits. For this Easy One-Pot Chicken Pasta, you only need a handful of components to get that powerhouse garlic parmesan flavor.

Don’t skip measuring the Parmesan cheese! Using freshly grated really makes a difference in how creamy the sauce gets, trust me. We are talking about one core list here, so let’s get organized. Having everything ready—what I call my *mise en place*—is half the battle won before the heat even comes on. It’s the neatest part of the process!

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 4 cloves garlic, minced (make sure it’s fresh!)
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 12 ounces penne pasta
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Step-by-Step Instructions for Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken

This is where the magic happens, and trust me, it’s easier than you think! We are sticking to the one-pot rule here, so grab your big Dutch oven or the largest pot you have. Remember my philosophy: clear steps, big flavor. You don’t need to be a pro to nail this incredibly satisfying weeknight dish.

Browning the Chicken and Aromatics

First things first, get that chicken seasoned up! Toss those bite-sized pieces with the salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat your olive oil over medium-high heat. You want the pan hot enough to get a nice sear on that chicken. Cook it for about 5 to 7 minutes, turning it until it looks nicely browned on all sides. Don’t worry about cooking it through completely yet! Once it’s got some good color, scoop it out and set it aside for a minute. Now, drop your minced garlic right into that hot pot. You have to move fast here—just 30 seconds is all that garlic needs to become fragrant. If it burns, you’ll taste bitterness, so watch it like a hawk!

Cooking the Pasta and Building the Sauce

Once your kitchen smells like heaven because of that garlic, pour in the 4 cups of chicken broth. Get that up to a boil! When it’s bubbling happily, throw in all 12 ounces of penne pasta and give it a good stir to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom. Turn the heat down to medium-low, cover the pot, and let it bubble away for about 10 to 12 minutes until the pasta is nearly tender. I always say ‘nearly tender’ because it’ll cook a little more later. Make sure you stir it every few minutes! That stirring is key to stopping the pasta from clinging together.

SAVE

Finishing the Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta

When the pasta is just about done, return that cooked chicken back into the pot. Now, pour in your heavy cream and let it simmer for just two more minutes until the sauce starts looking a little thicker. Here’s my biggest expert tip for that restaurant-quality texture: take the entire pot OFF the heat before you add the cheese. You want that velvety smoothness! Stir in that cup of grated Parmesan cheese until it melts perfectly into the sauce. Give it a final swirl, and you’re set for serving immediately, topped with plenty of fresh parsley. That’s it! You’ve made an amazing quick dinner.

SAVE

Tips for the Best Garlic Parmesan Chicken Results

You’ve got the recipe down, but what pushes this from a good weeknight meal to a show-stopper? Honestly, it’s all those little tweaks that your seasoned cooks know. I learned this from years in my kitchen, and I want you to feel total confidence when you make this dish. These small adjustments make a huge difference in that final creamy bowl!

Ingredient Quality Matters for Garlic Parmesan

If you take away only one thing from my site, let it be this: please grate your own Parmesan cheese! The pre-shredded stuff is coated in starches meant to keep it from clumping up in the bag. Those starches absolutely ruin the melt factor in a sauce like this. When you grate it fresh—get the good block stuff—it melts into that perfect, silky sauce we are aiming for. It’s the difference between creamy comfort and slightly gritty sadness, and we definitely don’t want sadness here!

Adjusting Sauce Consistency

Sometimes the broth cooks down faster than you expect, or maybe you like your sauce extra thick, like a proper bake. If your sauce looks too thin after stirring in the cream and chicken, don’t panic! Just take the lid off and let it simmer on low for a few minutes. Evaporation does wonders, and it thickens up without adding any flour or other nonsense. On the flip side, if you find it got a little too thick after chilling or just by chance, grab a splash of milk or even some extra chicken broth and whisk it in until it loosens up again. It always bounces back!

Also, remember those notes from the recipe card? If you want a richer flavor that just tastes luxurious—go ahead and swap half of the chicken broth for half-and-half. It’s a tiny change but it really deepens the flavor payoff!

If you’re into other easy skillet and one-pot options after you master this, feel free to peek at my chicken sausage pasta recipe for even more quick inspiration. It’s all about reducing stress!

Serving Suggestions for Your Garlic Parmesan Meal

This One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is so rich and satisfying all by itself, but if you have hungry people showing up or you just want to make it a real feast, sides are the way to go! Remember what I always say? Food is my love language, and putting together a full table of delicious things is how I show I care. We want to make this meal memorable without keeping you chained to the stove all night!

Since we nailed the main course in one pot, let’s keep the sides just as easy. A little crunch or a little green totally balances out all that creamy goodness. For some super simple vegetable prep that melts right into your schedule, you absolutely have to try my recipe for crispy roasted Brussels sprouts. They get wonderfully charred, and the little bit of char cuts through the richness of the pasta perfectly.

And because, well, we are making chicken pasta with a flavorful Parmesan sauce, we need something to sop up every last drop, right? I’m a firm believer that garlic bread should always be on standby for pasta night. You can check out the recipe for my cheesy garlic bread—it’s incredibly quick and works beautifully when you bake it alongside your sprouts. Enjoy making your dinner table look amazing!

Storage and Reheating Garlic Parmesan Leftovers

I always hope for leftovers because, honestly, this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is almost as good the next day! But we have to be realistic: the beautiful, creamy sauce texture changes once it chills in the fridge. That heavy cream and Parmesan mixture thickens up a lot overnight. Don’t panic, though! Texture recovery is super simple.

When you are putting it away, use an airtight container. I like to press a piece of plastic wrap right onto the surface of the pasta before sealing the lid. This helps slightly with sealing in moisture. It keeps great in the fridge for about three days, max.

The key to reheating is adding back moisture. Simply put the portion you plan to eat into a small saucepan over low heat—never microwave this if you want it to be creamy again. As it slowly warms up, splash in just a bit of chicken broth or even a splash of milk. Stir it constantly as it heats. The liquid loosens up that thick sauce again, and you’re back to having super creamy pasta in just a minute or two. It might not look *exactly* like the fresh-off-the-stove version immediately, but give it a good stir while warming, and it comes right back to its comforting best!

SAVE

Frequently Asked Questions about Garlic Parmesan Pasta

I love hearing from you all! Getting the cooking process just right means sometimes you have questions that pop up after you’ve made the dish once or twice. I truly want you to feel confident cooking this, so here are some common things folks write to me about regarding this big flavor favorite.

Can I use a different type of pasta in this Garlic Parmesan recipe?

Oh, absolutely! This recipe is super flexible, which is one of the things I love about it. While penne works wonderfully because those little tubes grab onto the sauce so nicely, you can swap it out for almost any short pasta shape you have on hand. Rotini, farfalle (bow ties), or even shells would be fantastic. Just remember, every pasta shape absorbs liquid differently! If you switch to something smaller or larger than penne, you might need to give it a minute or two less or more cooking time once you cover the pot. Keep an eye on it, and taste test frequently!

How can I turn this into a Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Meal?

That’s a great thought for those days when you need dinner ready when you walk in the door! Because this is normally a stovetop dish, converting it to the slow cooker requires a little shift. To make this a true Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Meal, I’d usually skip browning the chicken beforehand and just toss the raw chicken, seasoning, broth, and dried pasta into the crockpot. Cook on low for about 3 to 4 hours until the pasta is tender—you may need to add just a hair more broth since there’s no evaporation. Then, once the pasta is done, stir in your heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, and let it warm through for about 10 minutes before serving. It won’t be as deeply flavored as the stovetop version, but it’s peak convenience!

Can I make this spicy?

Yes, you certainly can invite some heat to this party! Since this dish is so robust, it handles spice really well. A simple way to add some kick is to toss a pinch of red pepper flakes in with your minced garlic during that 30-second sauté step. That wakes up the heat right away! Or, if you prefer to season it at the end, a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce mixed into your serving bowl works wonders. Keep in mind, the richness of the Parmesan cheese will mellow out the heat, so don’t be afraid to experiment a little!

If you have any other burning questions about this dish or anything else in the kitchen, don’t hesitate to reach out on my contact page or send me a quick note over on Facebook! I love tackling cooking dilemmas.

Building Your Kitchen Confidence Beyond Garlic Parmesan

Making this amazing one-pot dinner proves you don’t need complicated techniques to get incredible results. That’s the core of Pure Cooking Joy! If you’re ready to put down the takeout menus and start whipping up more crowd-pleasing meals like this with ease, I highly encourage you to peek around the rest of the site. You can find tons of new inspiration when you check out my main blog archive.

If the stress of general meal planning is getting you down, remember that conquering one great recipe is the first step. Once you feel that joy, the rest starts getting much easier. Keep cooking, chef!

Nutritional Estimates for One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Now, I always want to be upfront with you, because transparency is everything when it comes to food and cooking here at Pure Cooking Joy. Knowing what’s in your bowl is important, but remember these numbers are just estimates! Since we’re using real ingredients—and you might have your own favorite brand of cheese or broth—the final count can shift a little bit. Think of this as a very solid guideline rather than a strict laboratory analysis.

This information is based on the recipe serving four people as written, using standard grocery item estimations. If you are tracking macros very carefully, you might want to adjust based on your specific items, but it gives you a fantastic overview of this hearty meal!

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 650
• Fat: 35g (including 18g Saturated Fat)
• Carbohydrates: 45g (with only 3g Fiber)
• Protein: 40g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 850mg
• Cholesterol: 140mg

I always tell people not to stress over the sodium too much when it comes to comfort food—we’re drinking water all day, right? But if you’re watching salt intake, just use low-sodium chicken broth to bring that number down easily! You followed the steps, you made an amazing meal, and now you know exactly what you are eating!

Easy One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Make this creamy, flavorful Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta in one pot for simple cleanup. It is a comforting weeknight dinner ready fast.

• Author: purejoyalex
• Prep Time: 10 min
• Cook Time: 25 min
• Total Time: 35 min
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stovetop (One-Pot)
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 12 ounces penne pasta
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
2. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
3. Add minced garlic to the pot and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Do not let it burn.
4. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add the penne pasta and stir. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is nearly tender.
5. Stir in the heavy cream and return the chicken to the pot. Cook for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
6. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is creamy.
7. Serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Notes

• For a richer flavor, you can substitute half the chicken broth with half-and-half.
• This recipe is a great alternative to relying on meal planning services when you need a quick dinner.
• If you want to explore other quick options, look into keto meal plan delivery for variety.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 650
• Sugar: 4
• Sodium: 850
• Fat: 35
• Saturated Fat: 18
• Unsaturated Fat: 17
• Trans Fat: 1
• Carbohydrates: 45
• Fiber: 3
• Protein: 40
• Cholesterol: 140