Here’s a rich, restaurant-style Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta recipe—juicy chicken, golden garlic butter, and a silky Parmesan sauce that coats every strand of pasta.
🍗🧄 Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta
Serves 4
⏱ Time
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Prep: 15 minutes
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Cook: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Chicken Bites
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1 lb (450 g) boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
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1 teaspoon paprika
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½ teaspoon garlic powder
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½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
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Salt & black pepper to taste
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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3 tablespoons unsalted butter
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Creamy Parmesan Pasta
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10–12 oz pasta (fettuccine, penne, or linguine)
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2 tablespoons butter
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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1 cup heavy cream
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¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
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½ teaspoon black pepper
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¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
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Salt to taste
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½ cup reserved pasta water
Directions
1. Cook the Pasta
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
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Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions.
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Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
2. Season & Cook the Chicken
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Season chicken with paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
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Add chicken in a single layer.
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Cook 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
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Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Garlic Butter Sauce
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Reduce heat to medium.
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Add butter to the same skillet.
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Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds until fragrant.
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Return chicken to skillet and toss in garlic butter.
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Sprinkle with parsley and keep warm.
4. Make Creamy Parmesan Sauce
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In a separate pan (or wipe skillet clean), melt butter over medium heat.
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Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds.
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Pour in heavy cream and simmer 3–4 minutes.
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Lower heat and whisk in Parmesan, pepper, and nutmeg.
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Add pasta water a little at a time until silky.
5. Combine
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Add cooked pasta to the Parmesan sauce and toss to coat.
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Plate pasta and top with garlic butter chicken bites.
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Spoon extra garlic butter from the skillet over the top.
Tips for Best Results
✔ Cut chicken evenly for quick cooking
✔ Don’t brown garlic too long—keep it fragrant
✔ Use freshly grated Parmesan only
✔ Pasta water helps emulsify the sauce
Variations
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Spicy: Add red pepper flakes
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Lemon Garlic: Finish with lemon zest & juice
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Broccoli Add-In: Toss in steamed broccoli
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Shrimp Swap: Use shrimp instead of chicken
Storage
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Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days
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Reheat gently with a splash of cream or milk