Description
This Garlic‑Butter Chicken Spaghetti blends tender chicken, garlicky butter sauce, and al dente spaghetti into a comforting, flavorful pasta dish. It’s rich, savory, and surprisingly quick — perfect for a cozy dinner or a satisfying weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 300–350 g (≈ 10–12 oz) spaghetti (or pasta of your choice)
- Salt (for pasta water)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter (for cooking chicken)
- 2 chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into bite‑sized pieces
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional — for a little heat)
- ½ cup (approx.) chicken broth (or pasta water)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnish)
- Optional: a squeeze of lemon juice (for brightness)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Cook the Chicken: In a large skillet, heat olive oil or 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add chicken to the skillet and sauté until browned and cooked through (about 5–7 minutes). Remove chicken and set aside.
- Make the Garlic‑Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining butter. Once melted, add minced garlic (and red pepper flakes if using) and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant — avoid burning the garlic. Pour in chicken broth (or a splash of pasta water) and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
- Combine Pasta, Chicken & Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained spaghetti. Toss everything together to coat the pasta and chicken in the garlic-butter sauce. If the pasta seems dry, add a little of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
- Add Cheese & Finish: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta and stir to melt and combine. Taste and adjust seasoning (salt, pepper). If desired — squeeze a bit of lemon juice for a bright finish.
- Serve: Divide into plates or bowls. Garnish with chopped parsley or basil, and extra Parmesan if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg