Welcome to the ultimate Angel Chicken Recipe, a dish so divine it lives up to its heavenly name. If you’re searching for a comforting, creamy, and incredibly savory pasta dinner, you’ve found it. This recipe combines tender chicken and delicate angel hair pasta, all enveloped in a rich, luscious cream sauce that will have everyone asking for seconds. It’s the perfect meal for a cozy weeknight dinner yet elegant enough to impress guests.
This isn’t just another pasta dish; it’s a culinary experience. The magic lies in the simple, yet perfectly balanced, sauce made with cream cheese, butter, and a hint of garlic and herbs. Let’s get started on creating this little slice of heaven right in your own kitchen.
Why You’ll Love This Angel Chicken Recipe
- Incredibly Creamy Sauce: The sauce is the star of the show. It’s rich, velvety, and clings perfectly to every strand of pasta.
- Quick and Easy: This dish comes together in under an hour, making it a fantastic option for busy weeknights.
- Simple Ingredients: You only need a handful of common ingredients to create this show-stopping meal.
- Crowd-Pleasing Flavor: The savory combination of tender chicken, rich sauce, and delicate pasta is a guaranteed hit with family and friends. For another guaranteed hit, try these flavor-packed French dip sliders.
The Key Ingredients for Perfect Angel Chicken
This recipe relies on a few simple, high-quality ingredients to create its signature flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Chicken Breast: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces for quick, even cooking.
- Angel Hair Pasta: This thin pasta is perfect for the creamy sauce, but you can substitute spaghetti or fettuccine if you prefer.
- Butter: Provides a rich flavor base for the sauce.
- Cream Cheese: The secret to the ultra-creamy, tangy sauce.
- Chicken Broth: Adds depth and helps create the perfect sauce consistency.
- Italian Seasoning & Garlic Powder: These herbs and spices are essential for that classic, savory flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan adds a salty, nutty finish.
Ingredient Substitutions and Variations
Want to mix things up? This recipe is wonderfully versatile.
- Add Veggies: Sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or sun-dried tomatoes make excellent additions. Add them to the skillet after the chicken is cooked.
- Make it Spicy: A pinch of red pepper flakes will add a nice kick of heat to the sauce.
- Different Protein: Try this recipe with shrimp or leave out the meat entirely for a vegetarian version. If you’re a fan of shrimp, you might also enjoy these crispy shrimp tacos.
How to Make The Best Angel Chicken Recipe: Step-by-Step
Follow these simple steps to create a flawless Angel Chicken pasta dish every time.
Step 1: Prepare the Pasta and Chicken
Start by cooking the angel hair pasta according to package directions until al dente. While the pasta is cooking, season your bite-sized chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chicken and cook until it’s golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
Step 2: Create the Creamy Angel Sauce
In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chicken broth, cream cheese, and Italian seasoning. Whisk continuously until the cream cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth. Let it simmer for a few minutes to slightly thicken.
Step 3: Combine and Serve
Stir the grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce until it’s melted and the sauce is velvety. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Drain the cooked angel hair pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the sauce and chicken. Toss everything together until the pasta is thoroughly coated. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.
Pro Tips for Success
To ensure your Angel Chicken Recipe turns out perfectly every time, keep these expert tips in mind.
- Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Angel hair cooks very quickly. Cook it just until al dente, as it will continue to cook slightly when you add it to the hot sauce.
- Use Room Temperature Cream Cheese: Allowing your cream cheese to soften at room temperature will help it melt more easily and create a smoother sauce.
- Save Your Pasta Water: Before draining your pasta, reserve about a cup of the starchy water. If your sauce is too thick, you can add a splash of pasta water to thin it out to the perfect consistency.
What to Serve with Angel Chicken
This creamy pasta dish pairs wonderfully with a variety of sides. A crisp green salad with a simple vinaigrette, like this refreshing apple arugula salad (coming soon), can cut through the richness of the sauce. Steamed or roasted vegetables like broccoli or asparagus are also excellent choices. For a heartier meal, serve it with a side of garlic bread to soak up every last drop of the delicious sauce.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store any leftover Angel Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm it in a saucepan over low heat. You may need to add a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce and restore its creamy texture.
While it’s best served fresh, you can prepare components ahead of time. Cook the chicken and make the sauce, storing them separately in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, reheat the sauce gently, adding a splash of broth to loosen it, then cook the pasta and combine everything.
Absolutely! While angel hair is traditional, this creamy sauce also pairs beautifully with other pasta shapes like fettuccine, linguine, or even penne. Just be sure to cook your chosen pasta to al dente according to its specific package directions.
To ensure a smooth, velvety sauce, use room temperature cream cheese so it melts evenly. Whisk it constantly over medium, not high, heat. Avoid boiling the sauce after adding the Parmesan cheese, as high heat can cause dairy-based sauces to separate.
For a similar creamy texture, you could try using heavy cream reduced with a bit of flour or cornstarch as a thickener. However, the tangy flavor of the cream cheese is signature to the Angel Chicken recipe, so the taste will be different.
Angel chicken is typically made with boneless, skinless chicken breast, angel hair pasta, and a rich, creamy sauce. The sauce is the star, created from a base of butter, cream cheese, chicken broth, and seasonings like Italian seasoning and garlic powder, finished with Parmesan cheese.
While it’s best served fresh, you can prepare components ahead of time. Cook the chicken and make the sauce, storing them separately in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, reheat the sauce gently, adding a splash of broth to loosen it, then cook the pasta and combine everything.
Absolutely! While angel hair is traditional, this creamy sauce also pairs beautifully with other pasta shapes like fettuccine, linguine, or even penne. Just be sure to cook your chosen pasta to al dente according to its specific package directions.
To ensure a smooth, velvety sauce, use room temperature cream cheese so it melts evenly. Whisk it constantly over medium, not high, heat. Avoid boiling the sauce after adding the Parmesan cheese, as high heat can cause dairy-based sauces to separate.
For a similar creamy texture, you could try using heavy cream reduced with a bit of flour or cornstarch as a thickener. However, the tangy flavor of the cream cheese is signature to the Angel Chicken recipe, so the taste will be different.
Angel chicken is typically made with boneless, skinless chicken breast, angel hair pasta, and a rich, creamy sauce. The sauce is the star, created from a base of butter, cream cheese, chicken broth, and seasonings like Italian seasoning and garlic powder, finished with Parmesan cheese.
Angel Chicken Recipe: A Creamy, Dreamy Pasta Dish
Discover the ultimate Angel Chicken Recipe, featuring tender chicken and delicate pasta in a rich, heavenly cream sauce. This easy, crowd-pleasing dinner is perfect for any night of the week and ready in under an hour.
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Cook the angel hair pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, season the chicken cubes with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chicken broth, softened cream cheese, and Italian seasoning. Whisk constantly until the cream cheese melts and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and allow it to melt into the sauce. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained angel hair pasta to the skillet.
- Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are well-coated in the creamy sauce. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
Use room temperature cream cheese for the smoothest sauce.
Don't overcook the angel hair pasta; it should be al dente.
Reserve a small amount of pasta water to thin the sauce if it becomes too thick.
Angel Chicken Recipe: A Creamy, Dreamy Pasta Dish
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Cook the angel hair pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, season the chicken cubes with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chicken broth, softened cream cheese, and Italian seasoning. Whisk constantly until the cream cheese melts and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and allow it to melt into the sauce. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained angel hair pasta to the skillet.
- Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are well-coated in the creamy sauce. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
Don't overcook the angel hair pasta; it should be al dente.
Reserve a small amount of pasta water to thin the sauce if it becomes too thick.
We Hope You Enjoyed This Angel Chicken Recipe!
We are confident this will become one of your new favorite dinner recipes. If you loved making it, we’d be thrilled if you shared your creation with us. Please leave a comment below with your thoughts or share a photo of your dish on Pinterest. Happy cooking!
