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Garlic Butter Chicken with Rigatoni and Parmesan Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 63 reviews
  • Author: Zoe
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

This Garlic Butter Chicken with Rigatoni and Parmesan is a creamy, savory pasta dish featuring tender chicken pieces seared to perfection and coated in a luscious garlic butter sauce. The rigatoni is cooked al dente and tossed in a rich mixture of heavy cream, chicken broth, and Parmesan cheese, accented with Italian seasoning and fresh parsley for a deliciously comforting meal that’s easy to prepare on the stovetop.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 12 oz rigatoni pasta

Chicken

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
  • ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Sauce and Seasoning

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Garnish

  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the rigatoni pasta. Cook until al dente according to package instructions, usually about 10-12 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining to help adjust sauce consistency later.
  2. Sear Chicken: Season the bite-sized chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  3. Create Garlic Butter Base: In the same skillet, melt unsalted butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  4. Add Broth and Cream: Pour in the chicken broth and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly. Then stir in the heavy cream and allow the sauce to thicken gently over medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
  5. Incorporate Cheese and Seasonings: Mix in the grated Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning, stirring until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy. Add red pepper flakes if using and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
  6. Combine and Simmer: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, add the drained rigatoni pasta, and toss everything together to ensure the pasta and chicken are well coated with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach desired consistency. Simmer together for an additional minute to meld flavors.
  7. Serve: Plate the pasta and garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving immediately.

Notes

  • Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency; it helps bind the sauce to the pasta perfectly.
  • For extra flavor, you can use freshly grated Parmesan instead of pre-grated cheese.
  • If you prefer a spicier dish, increase the red pepper flakes to taste.
  • Chicken breasts can be substituted with boneless thighs for a juicier texture.
  • This dish reheats well in a skillet over low heat with a splash of cream or broth to loosen the sauce.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: Garlic Butter Chicken, Rigatoni Pasta, Creamy Parmesan Pasta, Italian Chicken Pasta, Easy Dinner Recipe

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Find it online: https://cookingwithzoe.com/garlic-butter-chicken-with-rigatoni-and-parmesan-recipe/