Description

This Cheddar Parmesan Garlic Butter Chicken with Creamy Shells is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken pieces cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce, combined with creamy heavy cream, sharp cheddar, and Parmesan cheese. Tossed with perfectly cooked shell pasta and seasoned with Cajun spices and Italian herbs, this meal is a delicious, indulgent dinner option that’s easy to prepare on the stovetop.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Seasoning

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons garlic butter, divided
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon paprika
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Pasta

12 oz shell pasta

Sauce

2 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

Garnish

Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the shell pasta and cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
Heat the Skillet: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of garlic butter until the butter melts and the mixture is hot.
Cook the Chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the skillet and season with Cajun seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook the chicken for 6 to 8 minutes until it turns golden brown on the outside and is cooked through.
Sauté the Garlic: Push the cooked chicken pieces to one side of the skillet. Add the remaining garlic butter and minced garlic to the empty side of the pan. Sauté the garlic until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes, being careful not to burn it.
Make the Creamy Cheese Sauce: Pour the heavy cream into the skillet with the garlic and chicken. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and dried Italian seasoning. Allow the sauce to simmer gently until it becomes creamy and thickened, stirring occasionally.
Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked shell pasta to the skillet along with the reserved pasta water, as needed, to loosen the sauce. Toss everything together to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
Final Cooking: Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the pasta is heated through and the sauce coats all ingredients nicely. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
Serve: Garnish the dish with chopped fresh parsley and serve warm, enjoying the creamy, cheesy chicken and pasta combination.

Notes

Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency as needed.
Use fresh garlic butter or make your own for enhanced flavor.
Adjust Cajun seasoning amount to control the spice level.
For a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, though sauce will be less rich.
This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the creamy texture.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: cheddar chicken, creamy pasta, garlic butter chicken, shell pasta recipe, Cajun chicken pasta, Parmesan chicken