Description
Garlic Butter Chicken with Rigatoni and Parmesan is a creamy, comforting pasta dish made with golden seared chicken bites tossed in a velvety garlic parmesan cream sauce. Rigatoni holds onto every bit of flavor, and a quick broil gives the top a hint of crisp. Perfect for cozy dinners and family meals.
Ingredients
1 pound chicken breast or thighs, diced
12 ounces rigatoni pasta
4 tablespoons butter, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Cook rigatoni in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
2. In a skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add chicken, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Sear until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
3. Melt the remaining butter in the same skillet. Add garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Stir in heavy cream, scraping up browned bits from the pan. Simmer gently.
5. Add parmesan cheese and stir until melted into the sauce.
6. Return chicken to the pan, add rigatoni, and toss to combine. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
7. Transfer mixture to a baking dish, top with extra parmesan, and broil for 2–3 minutes until golden.
8. Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
Notes
For best results, use freshly grated parmesan instead of pre-shredded. It melts better and enhances flavor.
If you’re short on time, skip the broil step—it’s still delicious without it!
You can add spinach or peas in Step 6 for extra veggies without fuss.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop + Optional Broil
- Cuisine: American/Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (¼ recipe)
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: garlic butter chicken, rigatoni pasta, creamy chicken pasta