Follow these detailed instructions to create a restaurant-quality Garlic Butter Chicken Spaghetti right in your own kitchen. Each step is designed to ensure flavorful chicken, a creamy sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta.

1. Cook the Spaghetti: Begin by cooking the spaghetti according to package directions in a large pot of salted boiling water. Cook until al dente – tender but still slightly firm to the bite. This prevents mushy pasta in the final dish. Once cooked, drain the spaghetti and set it aside. Don’t rinse the pasta, as the starch helps the sauce cling to it.
2. Prepare the Chicken: While the spaghetti is cooking, prepare the chicken. Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. This helps them brown nicely when sautéing. Season the chicken generously with salt and black pepper. Even seasoning at this stage is key to flavorful chicken.
3. Sauté the Chicken: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt half of the butter (½ cup) over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted and shimmering, add the seasoned chicken pieces to the skillet in a single layer, if possible. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan, which can steam the chicken instead of browning it. Sauté the chicken for about 5-7 minutes, or until it’s cooked through and lightly browned on all sides. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside.
4. Sauté the Garlic: In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter (½ cup) over medium heat. Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and sauté for about 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can become bitter. Fragrant garlic is the foundation of the delicious sauce.
5. Build the Sauce: Pour the chicken broth into the skillet with the sautéed garlic. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan – these are called fond and are packed with flavor. Bring the chicken broth to a simmer. Stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using). Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for about 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly and the cheese is melted and smooth. Simmering allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to reach the perfect consistency.
6. Combine Chicken and Sauce: Add the cooked chicken pieces back to the skillet with the garlic butter sauce. Stir gently to coat the chicken evenly in the sauce. Heat through for a minute or two until the chicken is warmed.
7. Combine with Spaghetti: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with the chicken and sauce. Toss everything together until the spaghetti is well coated in the creamy garlic butter sauce and the chicken is evenly distributed throughout. Ensure every strand of spaghetti is lovingly coated in the flavorful sauce.
8. Garnish and Serve: Remove the Garlic Butter Chicken Spaghetti from the heat. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, if desired. Enjoy your delicious and easy Garlic Butter Chicken Spaghetti!