Garlic Parmesan Pasta with Chicken is a delicious and warm pasta bake! This 30 minute casserole has tender chunks of chicken and an irresistible garlic parmesan sauce; Making it the best weeknight meal.
If you want more warm and satisfying casseroles, check out my Chicken Broccoli Divan Casserole and my Chicken Taco Casserole.
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Why this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe is a Keeper
I love this garlic parmesan chicken pasta as it’s a pure comfort food. It’s warm, inviting and ready in 30 minutes! Restaurant quality made at home.
- 30 Minute Meal: This recipe is quick and makes for a filling, easy pasta dinner!
- Adaptable: With a few simple swaps, you can make this meal dairy free.
- Special Occasion Worthy: It’s impressive enough to serve at a gathering or holiday.
- Freezes Well: It’s great for making ahead and freezing for later.
- Great for Leftovers: The leftovers taste just as good, if not better!
- Comforting: It has a comforting, homey feel that makes you want to return to it.
How Do I Prevent the Chicken from Drying Out?
Make sure all of the chicken is covered with the parmesan garlic sauce to ensure it doesn’t dry out in the oven. Covering the chicken with foil for part of the cooking time can help retain moisture. The best way to ensure your chicken is cooked through without drying out is to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
Ingredient Notes for Garlic Chicken
To make this recipe, you will need just a few easy ingredients. If you don’t already have these ingredients in your kitchen, they can all easily be found at the store.
- Chicken: Use chicken like boneless skinless chicken breasts, a rotisserie chicken or chicken thighs for this recipe. Seasoned chicken cooks in the oven at 365 degrees for about an hour. Sear the chicken on the stove first.
- Parmesan: Shredded parmesan or grated parmesan go great with the garlic flavor in this recipe.
- Penne Pasta: Penne noodles are perfect for holding the creamy sauce in this garlic chicken pasta recipe.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
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Prep Ahead Suggestions for Garlic Chicken Pasta
When you prepare ingredients ahead of time, it can help save you time and kitchen space when it comes to making everything for dinner!
- Cook and Store: Cook chicken breasts ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will save you time when assembling the dish.
Pro Tip to Love this Recipe
Don’t Overcook Pasta: Cook your pasta al dente, or slightly undercooked, as it will continue to cook in the sauce.
How to Make Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
This garlic parmesan chicken and pasta recipe comes together in just 5 easy to follow steps. This easy chicken garlic pasta is so delicious, you’ll come back to it again and again.
These are the basic steps for making Garlic Parmesan Pasta with Chicken. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Preheat Oven and Cook the Pasta
Preheat oven to 425℉ and cook pasta according to package directions. Remember to salt your pasta water.
2. Heat Garlic
In a large sauce pan, melt one tablespoon butter and then add minced garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds. Stir in flour to the fresh garlic and cook, stirring continuously, for one minute.
3. Make Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce
Gradually add heavy cream to the roux while stirring until mixture is slightly thickened and bubbly. Stir in chicken, peas and add in the parmesan cheese, and cook until heated. Add the pasta and stir.
4. Make Bread Crumb Topping
Place bread into food processor and pulse until bread is becomes course crumbs. Put crumbs into a large bowl and toss with one tablespoon of melted butter.
5. Assemble and Bake
Pour chicken and noodle mixture into a casserole dish and then cover with prepared bread crumbs. Bake uncovered for 10 minutes or until topping browns.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftover Easy Chicken Garlic Pasta
- Storing: Store any leftover juicy chicken creamy pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta in the microwave or the oven!
- Using Leftovers: Enjoy leftover creamy garlic sauce pasta topped with freshly grated parmesan with Savory Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Rosemary.
Variations and Substitutions for Parmesan Garlic Chicken Pasta
This garlic and parmesan chicken recipe is super easy to customize to make it your own! Try taking it to the next level by trying different ingredients and experimenting with textures and flavors.
- Different Cheese: Try Romano, asiago or Manchego in this easy chicken pasta recipe.
- Fresh Herbs: Add fresh herbs like basil or parsley for a burst of flavor in this chicken garlic parmesan pasta recipe.
- Breaded Chicken: Coat the tender chicken in breadcrumbs, garlic powder and grated parmesan cheese before baking or frying to cook the chicken for a crispy texture.
Chicken and Pasta Recipe FAQs
Serve this recipe with Air Fryer Garlic Bread, Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks or Easy Tomato Bruschetta.
Sure! You could try this recipe with ground beef for steak.
To make this recipe dairy free use a plant based cheese, butter and milk.
Expert Tips for Making This Pasta Dish Recipe
- Experiment with Pasta: Use any pasta like a gluten free pasta, whole grain pasta, or even riced cauliflower. Use whatever your favorite pasta is be sure it’s al dente pasta.
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe for a crowd. Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two baking dishes before baking.
- Use your Favorite Vegetables: If your kids don’t like peas, try using broccoli, leeks or mushrooms.
- More Sauce: If you’re in a pinch and your casserole needs more pasta sauce, use some buffalo wild wings garlic parmesan sauce. To get everything out of the bottle, shake with a little chicken broth.
- Creamy: Make this bake extra creamy with some cream cheese added to the sauce.
- Spices and Seasonings: Try adding in other spices and seasonings! Use garlic powder, chicken seasoning or onion powder.
Garlic Parmesan Pasta with Chicken
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Ingredients
- 16 ounces Penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons Butter, divided
- 2 tablespoons Flour
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- ¾ cups Half-and-half, or milk
- 2 cups Chicken, shredded
- 1 cup Frozen peas
- 1 cup Shredded parmesan cheese
- 2 slices Bread, white or wheat, torn into pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425℉.
- Prepare pasta according to directions.
- Meanwhile, in a large sauce pan melt one tablespoon butter and then add minced garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds.
- Stir in flour, and cook and stir continuously for one minute.
- Gradually add milk to pan while stirring until mixture is slightly thickened and bubbly.
- Stir in chicken, peas and cheese. Cook until heated through.
- Add in pasta and stir until well combined.
- To make bread crumbs, place bread into food processor and pulse until bread is becomes course crumbs.
- Put crumbs into bowl and toss with one tablespoon melted butter.
- Pour mixture into a casserole dish and then cover with prepared bread crumbs. Bake uncovered for 10 minutes or until topping browns.
Christina’s Notes
- Experiment with Pasta: Use any pasta like a gluten free pasta, whole grain pasta, or even riced cauliflower. Use whatever your favorite pasta is be sure it’s al dente pasta.
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe for a crowd. Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two baking dishes before baking.
- Use your Favorite Vegetables: If your kids don’t like peas, try using broccoli, leeks or mushrooms.
- More Sauce: If you’re in a pinch and your casserole needs more pasta sauce, use some buffalo wild wings garlic parmesan sauce. To get everything out of the bottle, shake with a little chicken broth.
- Creamy: Make this bake extra creamy with some cream cheese added to the sauce.
- Spices and Seasonings: Try adding in other spices and seasonings! Use garlic powder, chicken seasoning or onion powder.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, scroll up on the page.
Delightful Post Thanks
Very good garlic parmesan chicken pasta
Thanks
Soooo dry.
The taste was okay, but the ratio of pasta (too much) to chicken (too little) to sauce (too little) was not good.
Cook coveted for how long? This was the worst recipe, super dry. I should have known better than to try during quarantine for Covid-19. What a waste of food we’re trying to get the most out of. Family of 5 totally disappointed.
Sorry it was a miss for you.
This turned out perfect! Thanks for sharing such a delicious and easy meal that my whole family loved!
So glad you like it!
We will definitely be making this for dinner regularly! Everyone loves it.
It’s a hit at our house too!
Be nice if you checked comments, since all 3 mention omission of flour in ingred list. Since I’m not a great cook, I’ll have to skip this one. I seriously doubt you meant 1oz box pasta, either, but that the ’16’ at end should be box size (?)
Hi Ladies! I’m Susanne a contributor here at It Is a Keeper and the author of this recipe. I’ve noticed a couple of you have asked about the amount of flour in this recipe. There is no flour in this recipe. It doesn’t require a rue, the cheese sauce is made by combining garlic with melted parmesan. I hope that you’ve tried this recipe and enjoyed it. If you haven’t I hope you will. It’s a fantastic recipe. Thanks for visiting It Is A Keeper!
Susanne
In step 4. “Stir in flour and cook and stir continuously for one minute”. Since there is not a mention of the flour measurement, then I suppose you need to edit and omit this step from your recipe because it makes the recipe confusing.
Thanks.
The flour measurement has been added 🙂
The recipe sound really good and it’s very similar to my Creamy Parmesan Chicken Penne Pasta with garlic & steamed broccoli. I think my kids would really love this one too & ease of preperation is a big bonus for me.
*I do have one comment on the recipe though, you left out the amount of flour used for the roux in your white sauce base. I could guess are they amount but would hate to ruin it if I’m wrong. Please try to add the amount of flour needed so I can give this yummy sounding casserole a try. Thank you!
Oops meant I could guess about the amount of flour needed. Hope that I didn’t confuse you. Sorry about that, you gotta love auto correct.
Dish was good. Nothing I’d change. Ingredient missing from list. No mention of flour in listing. Luckily, I guessed right.
Approximately how much flour did you use? Since she doesn’t have a flour measurement in her ingredients you could post your own version of this recipe on here ????
2 tablespoons…I just updated the recipe with the correct measurements. Thank you for pointing that out 🙂
How much flour do you use for the garlic parmesan chicken?