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Smoky Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta - Easy One Pan Comfort Food Dinner

This halal comfort food dish combines tender chicken with al dente pasta and a luxurious garlic butter sauce enhanced with smoky seasonings. It's a restaurant-quality meal that comes together in one pan, perfect for busy weeknights with minimal cleanup.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 650
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 1 lb halal chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 12 oz pasta of choice (penne, fettuccine, or linguine work well)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (halal certified)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and half the smoked paprika. Cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  2. While chicken cooks, boil pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup of pasta water in case you need to thin the sauce later.
  3. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in remaining smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the chicken.
  4. Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream. Add cooked pasta and chicken back to the skillet. Toss everything together until well coated. Sprinkle in Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and creamy. If sauce is too thick, add a tablespoon of reserved pasta water at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  5. Garnish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately while hot for the best texture and flavor experience.

Notes

Choose short pasta shapes like penne to hold sauce better, don't overcook garlic (60 seconds max), keep heat low when adding cream to prevent curdling, and use reserved pasta water to thin sauce if needed.