This creamy chicken and corn spaghetti is the ultimate comfort-food dinner—tender golden chicken, sweet corn, perfectly cooked spaghetti, and a rich, silky cream sauce all come together in one incredibly satisfying meal. It’s easy enough for a busy weeknight, but delicious enough to serve when you have guests over.
🛒 Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- 1 teaspoon salt for the pasta water
For the Creamy Corn Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup sweet corn, drained if using canned
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup whole milk
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- ½ cup reserved pasta water, as needed
For Garnishing
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- A little freshly cracked black pepper
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken
Start by preparing the chicken breasts. Pat them dry with paper towels, then cut them into bite-sized strips or small pieces.
Place the chicken in a bowl and season it with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Toss everything together until the chicken is evenly coated.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and butter. Once the butter has melted and the skillet is hot, carefully add the seasoned chicken.
Cook the chicken for about 4–6 minutes per side, turning occasionally, until the pieces are beautifully golden brown on the outside and completely cooked through.
Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate. Keep all those flavorful browned bits in the skillet—they’ll add incredible flavor to the sauce.
2. Cook the Spaghetti
While the chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Season the water generously with salt and add the spaghetti. Cook according to the package directions until the pasta is al dente.
Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water. This starchy water will help loosen the sauce and make it extra silky.
Drain the spaghetti and set it aside. Do not rinse the pasta.
3. Make the Creamy Sauce
Using the same skillet where you cooked the chicken, reduce the heat to medium.
Add the butter and let it melt. Add the diced onion and cook for about 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes soft and translucent.
Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Add the sweet corn and stir everything together.
Pour in the heavy cream and whole milk. Stir gently and allow the mixture to warm through.
Add the softened cream cheese and stir continuously until it melts completely into the sauce.
Sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and a small pinch of salt.
Continue stirring over medium-low heat until the sauce becomes smooth, creamy, and slightly thickened.
4. Combine the Pasta and Sauce
Add the cooked spaghetti directly into the skillet with the creamy corn sauce.
Using tongs, gently toss the spaghetti through the sauce until every strand is beautifully coated.
If the sauce feels too thick, gradually add a little of the reserved pasta water while tossing. Add only as much as needed until you reach a smooth, glossy, restaurant-style consistency.
5. Add the Chicken
Return the golden chicken pieces to the skillet.
Gently toss everything together so the chicken becomes coated with the creamy sauce and the sweet corn is distributed throughout the pasta.
Let everything cook together for another 1–2 minutes over low heat. This allows all the flavors to come together without overcooking the pasta.
Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, black pepper, or Parmesan if needed.
6. Serve
Turn off the heat and transfer the creamy chicken and corn spaghetti to a large serving bowl or individual plates.
Sprinkle generously with freshly chopped parsley.
Add a little extra Parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper on top.
For the best texture, serve immediately while the sauce is warm, creamy, and silky.
🍴 Serving Tip
For an extra-special presentation, twirl the spaghetti with a pair of kitchen tongs and place it in the center of the plate. Arrange several golden chicken pieces on top, sprinkle with parsley and Parmesan, and finish with a little black pepper.
The result is a rich, creamy, cheesy pasta dish with sweet bursts of corn and tender, golden chicken in every bite. It’s the kind of comforting homemade dinner the whole family will ask you to make again! 🍝🌽🍗