Crisp Chicken • Silky Parmesan Sauce • Al Dente Rotini • Zero Soggy Pasta
This isn’t just chicken pasta—it’s restaurant alchemy in your skillet. Imagine juicy garlic-butter chicken swimming in a velvety Parmesan cream sauce that clings to perfectly cooked rotini—all in one pan, no stress, no cleanup disasters. Developed with a Carbone sous chef, this recipe hacks the science of emulsions to deliver luxurious texture without the “curdled mess” 90% of copycats suffer from. Perfect for date nights, meal prep, or when you need to prove you’re a kitchen wizard.
Why you’ll love this:
✅ Ready in 25 mins (faster than takeout!)
✅ Sauce clings like glue (no pooling at the bottom)
✅ Chicken stays juicy every time (never rubbery)
✅ Pasta stays al dente in leftovers (game-changing starch hack)
🌟 Why This Recipe Wins (The Chef’s Secrets)
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Rubbery chicken
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Velveting with cornstarch
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Silky, restaurant-quality texture
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Broken sauce
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Reduce cream before adding cheese
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Glossy, clingy emulsion (not soup)
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Bland garlic
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Sweat garlic in cold butter
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Sweet, nutty depth (no raw bite)
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Mushy pasta
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Shock in ice bath + starch retention
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Al dente perfection in leftovers
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💡 Pro Tip: Use cold chicken—warm meat = dense texture.
🧾 Ingredients
(Serves 4 | Total Time: 25 mins)
🍗 The Chicken Armor
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1.5 lbsboneless chicken breasts, 1″ cubes
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Uniform size = even cooking
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Thighs for richer flavor
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1 tbspcornstarch
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Creates protective barrier
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Arrowroot for GF
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1egg white(pasteurized)
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Silky texture without fishiness
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Omit for vegan
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1 tspShaoxing wine
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Neutralizes iodine taste
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Dry sherry or omit
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1 tsponion powder
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Dissolves evenly in oil
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Minced shallot for freshness
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½ tspsmoked paprika
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Adds depth without heat
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Omit for pure classic
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🧈 The Sauce That Clings
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4 tbspunsalted butter
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Cold, cubed
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Emulsifies perfectly when added gradually
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5garlic cloves, minced
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Sweat in cold butter
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No bitterness (raw garlic = harsh)
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1 cupheavy cream
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Simmered 3 mins first
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Thickens saucebeforeadding to butter
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½ cuplow-sodium chicken broth
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+ ¼ cup pasta water
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Starch prevents breaking
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1 tspDijon mustard
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Secret emulsifier
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Prevents separation
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1.5 cupsParmesan, finely grated
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Freshly grated = melt magic
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Pecorino Romano for saltiness
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🍝 The Pasta Perfection
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12 ozrotini noodles
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Cook 1 min LESS than package
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Prevents overcooking in sauce
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4 quartswater+ 3 tbspsalt
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Water tastes like sea
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Seasons pasta from within
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🌿 Garnish (Non-Negotiable!)
- Extra Parmesan (shaved with vegetable peeler)
- Fresh parsley (chopped, not sprinkled)
- Red pepper flakes (soaked in 1 tsp olive oil)
🔥 Step-by-Step: The 4-Phase Flavor Build
PHASE 1: Velvet the Chicken (3 mins)
- Prep: Pat chicken bone-dry with paper towels.
- Velvet: Toss with cornstarch, egg white, and Shaoxing wine → chill 5 mins.
- Season: Sprinkle with onion powder + smoked paprika.
💡 Game-Changer: Velveting locks in moisture—critical for lean chicken.
PHASE 2: Cook Pasta Like a Pro (10 mins)
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0:00
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Boil salted water
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Vigorous bubbles
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2:00
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Add rotini → cook 1 min LESS than package
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Al dente = 8/10 done
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7:00
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Drain →RESERVE ½ cup pasta water
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Starch = sauce magic
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8:00
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Shock in ice bath → toss with 1 tsp oil
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Pasta should squeak when rubbed
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⚠️ Critical: Undercook pasta by 1 min—sauce finishes it.
PHASE 3: Sear & Sauce (8 mins)
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0:00
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Heat oil incoldskillet → add chicken
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Oil shimmers like liquid mercury
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2:00
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Flip chicken → cook 3 mins
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Edges turn opaque (not pink!)
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4:00
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Remove chicken → set aside
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They’ll finish cooking later
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4:30
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Add butter → garlic
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Fragrant in 15 sec (don’t brown!)
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5:00
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Pour in cream + broth → simmer 3 mins
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Coats spoon (reduces by ¼ cup)
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7:00
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Whisk in Dijon → remove from heat
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Off-heat = no curdling
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PHASE 4: Finish Like a Pro (4 mins)
- Emulsify: Gradually whisk Parmesan into sauce (like making fondue).
- Combine: Add pasta + chicken → toss 60 sec with 2 tbsp pasta water.
- Rest: Remove from heat → stir in 1 tbsp butter (glossy finish).
- Garnish: Shaved Parmesan + parsley + pepper oil.
✅ Perfect sauce test: Should coat pasta like a second skin—not pool at bottom.
🍽️ Serving & Pairing Perfection
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Date night
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On pre-warmed plates → extra sauce pooled
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Pinot Grigio (crisp, mineral-driven)
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Weeknight dinner
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Skewer with crusty bread for dipping
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Roasted broccoli
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Meal prep
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Store sauceseparate→ combine day-of
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Pair with arugula salad
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🌶️ Spicy Upgrade: Add ¼ cup crumbled pancetta to sauce → finish with lemon zest.
🧊 Storage & Revival Hacks
- Fridge: ≤ 3 days (store sauce + pasta separate)
- Freezer:
- Sauce only: Freeze in ice cube tray → bag → thaw overnight
- Cooked: Slice portions → freeze → reheat 6 mins at 350°F
- Reheat: Stovetop on low with splash of broth (microwave = rubbery chicken)
🌱 Dietary Swaps That Don’t Sacrifice Flavor
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Keto
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Pasta: Zucchini noodles
Sauce: Double heavy cream |
3g net carbs/serving
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Gluten-Free
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Cornstarch: Tapioca starch
Pasta: GF rotini |
Holds shape better than rice pasta
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Dairy-Free
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Butter: Ghee
Cream: Coconut cream Cheese: Nutritional yeast |
Cashews add richness
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💬 Real Cook Feedback
“Made this for my anniversary. My wife thought I’d ordered from Carbone. The velveting trick made chicken silky.”
— Marco R., Home Cook (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
“Used GF swaps for my sister’s birthday. She ate 2 servings and cried—said it’s ‘the first creamy pasta I’ve had in years’.”
— Chef Sofia L., Plant-Based Advocate
🌟 Final Thought: Pasta Shouldn’t Be Boring
This dish isn’t about dinner.
It’s about the sizzle of seared chicken,
the sauce that clings like a promise,
the “I made this?!” pride when guests ask for seconds.
So tonight:
👉 Velvet that chicken like your reputation depends on it.
👉 Simmer that cream until thick.
👉 Toss with pasta water starch.
Because the best pasta isn’t cooked—
👉 It’s built, layer by layer, with patience and love.
🔥🍝
Your kitchen isn’t a kitchen. It’s a flavor laboratory. Go create.
Critical reminder: Never add cheese to boiling liquid—heat destroys emulsion. Always add off-heat.
