Ingredients You’ll Need
- For the Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- For the Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup Parmesan garlic sauce
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- For Assembly
- 2 cups ziti pasta, uncooked
How to Make It
1. Cook the Pasta: Cook the ziti pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced chicken breasts and season with seasoned salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside.
3. Sauté the Onions: Lower the heat to low and add the butter and diced onions to the same skillet. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the onions soften.
4. Add the Garlic: Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Make the Roux: Add the flour and stir well to form a roux – this will help thicken your sauce. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Add the Cream: Slowly pour in the heavy whipping cream and whole milk, whisking constantly until the sauce begins to thicken, about 2-3 minutes.
7. Add Parmesan Sauce: Stir in the Parmesan garlic sauce until fully combined with the cream sauce. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
8. Combine: Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the skillet with the sauce. Add the cooked diced chicken back in and toss everything together until evenly coated in that creamy, garlicky goodness.
9. Serve: Serve hot and enjoy this comforting, crowd-pleasing pasta dinner!
Extra Information
- This creamy garlic parmesan pasta is the ultimate weeknight comfort food – it’s quick, easy, and absolutely delicious.
- The roux made from butter and flour is essential for thickening the sauce without lumps.
- Don’t skip whisking when adding the cream – this helps prevent lumps from forming.
- The Parmesan garlic sauce (Buffalo Wild Wings brand is highly recommended) adds fantastic flavor that takes this dish to the next level.
- If your sauce ends up too thick, add 1/4 cup of whole milk at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
- For an even thicker sauce, stir in more shredded Parmesan cheese.
Essential Tools
- Large skillet
- Pot for cooking pasta
- Whisk
- Wooden spoon
- Colander for draining pasta