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Cheddar Parmesan Garlic Butter Chicken

Creamy cheddar Parmesan garlic butter chicken pasta.Rich, cheesy, and ready in just 40 minutes.Perfect easy dinner for the whole family.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American-Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 8 ounces penne pasta
  • 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese
  • 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons cream cheese softened
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice optional

Instructions
 

  • Slice chicken into thin cutlets and season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.
  • Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet. Cook chicken until golden and fully cooked, then set aside.
  • Add remaining butter and garlic to the same pan and sauté until fragrant.
  • Pour in chicken broth and simmer briefly while scraping up flavor from the pan.
  • Add heavy cream and whisk in cream cheese until smooth.
  • Cook penne pasta until slightly underdone, then drain.
  • Add pasta to the sauce, tossing well and adding pasta water if needed.
  • Stir in cheddar and Parmesan until melted into a creamy sauce.
  • Slice chicken and place over the pasta.
  • Garnish with parsley and lemon juice, then serve warm.

Notes

  • Substitute penne with rigatoni or fusilli.
  • Use half-and-half for a lighter sauce.
  • Add grilled vegetables for extra flavor.