Garlic Chicken Pasta with Creamy Sauce

Garlic, pasta, and chicken. Yes please! Adjust the garlic up or down as you like it. I even will add some bacon and mushrooms every now and again. Here's what you'll need to make 4 servings:

Photo byClaire

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 large breasts)
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 8 ounces uncooked linguine
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon flour
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Chopped fresh parsley optional, to taste

For Chicken:

In a medium bowl, mix together the garlic powder, dried parsley, fine sea salt, black pepper, and olive oil.

Carefully slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create four even fillets. Add the chicken to the bowl and coat it thoroughly in the oil and seasoning mixture.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for about 3 minutes per side, until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

Remove the chicken from the skillet and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.

For the Pasta:

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, following the package instructions.

As the pasta nears completion, start making the sauce. In a skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook the roux for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently.

Mix in the garlic and chicken broth, letting it simmer for about a minute.

Whisk in the cream and let the sauce continue cooking for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to your preferred consistency.

Stir in the parmesan cheese and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.

Drain the pasta and toss it in the sauce until fully coated. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of pasta water to reach the desired consistency. Serve immediately with parsley and extra parmesan, if desired. Enjoy!!

*Notes:

Sometimes I like to add in a container of fresh mushrooms and a handful of crumbled bacon. YUM!