Herb Garlic Chicken Bites with Creamy Cheesy Penne Pasta
đź›’ Ingredients
For the chicken bites:
- 2 chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- Salt & black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or mixed herbs)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ cup flour or cornstarch (for light coating)
- 2–3 tbsp butter
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil
- 3–4 cloves garlic (minced)
- Fresh parsley (optional)
For the creamy cheesy penne:
- 250g penne pasta
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- 1 cup mozzarella (shredded)
- ½ cup Parmesan (freshly grated)
- Salt & black pepper
- ½ cup pasta water (reserved)
👨‍🍳 Instructions
1. Cook the pasta
- Boil penne in salted water until al dente.
- Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Cook the chicken bites
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, paprika, herbs, and garlic powder.
- Lightly coat in flour or cornstarch for a crisp exterior.
- Heat butter + olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Cook chicken until golden and cooked through (6–8 minutes).
- Add minced garlic in the last minute and toss.
- Finish with a sprinkle of parsley. Remove and set aside.
3. Make the creamy cheesy sauce
- In the same pan, melt butter and sauté garlic for 30 seconds.
- Add heavy cream and simmer gently for 2–3 minutes.
- Stir in mozzarella until melted and smooth.
- Add Parmesan and mix until creamy.
- Season with salt and pepper.
4. Combine pasta
- Add penne to the sauce.
- Toss well, adding pasta water a little at a time until silky and coated.
5. Serve
- Plate creamy penne and top with herb garlic chicken bites.
- Finish with extra Parmesan and fresh herbs.
🔥 Tips for best results
- Don’t overcook garlic—burnt garlic turns bitter quickly
- Freshly grated cheese melts smoother than pre-shredded
- Add pasta water slowly—it’s the secret to restaurant-style sauce
- For extra flavor, squeeze a tiny bit of lemon over the chicken at the end
