Description
This recipe for Chicken Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta combines crispy, flavorful chicken pieces with a rich and velvety Parmesan cream sauce tossed with pasta. Ready in just 35 minutes, it’s perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner that feels indulgent without being complicated. The chicken is breaded and pan-fried to golden perfection, then paired with al dente pasta coated in a luscious cream sauce infused with Parmesan cheese and subtle garlic notes.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Bites
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Creamy Parmesan Pasta
- 8 oz pasta
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare baking sheet. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Cut the chicken. Slice the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces suitable for easy eating.
- Prepare the breading mixture. In a shallow dish, combine bread crumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to create a flavorful coating.
- Beat the eggs. In another shallow dish, beat the eggs thoroughly to use as a binding agent for the breading.
- Bread the chicken pieces. Dip each chicken piece into the beaten eggs, then coat it evenly with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure the coating sticks well. Arrange the breaded pieces on the prepared baking sheet.
- Cook the chicken bites. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the breaded chicken pieces and cook them until golden and crispy on all sides, about 5-6 minutes. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Cook the pasta. While cooking the chicken, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make the creamy sauce. In the same skillet used for the chicken, pour in the heavy cream and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Stir frequently until the cream thickens slightly, about 3-4 minutes.
- Toss pasta in sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the thickened cream sauce, tossing well to coat every strand. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve. Plate the creamy Parmesan pasta and top with the crispy chicken bites. Optionally, garnish with extra grated Parmesan cheese for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and smooth melting.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream but expect a thinner sauce.
- You can swap olive oil for vegetable oil if preferred for frying chicken.
- Adding fresh parsley or basil as garnish can provide a fresh herbaceous note.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the skillet when frying the chicken to ensure even crispiness.
- This dish can be prepared gluten-free by using gluten-free bread crumbs and pasta.
