Garlic Butter Chicken Rigatoni Parmesan (Print)

Creamy garlic butter sauce coats juicy chicken and rigatoni, finished with Parmesan for a quick comfort meal.

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta and Protein

01 - 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
02 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Sauce and Seasoning

03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
07 - 1 cup heavy cream
08 - 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, drain, and set pasta aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until golden brown. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
04 - Stir heavy cream into the skillet and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened. Add Parmesan cheese and mix until the sauce is smooth. If necessary, thin the sauce with reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
05 - Return cooked chicken to the skillet, tossing it in the sauce. Add rigatoni and gently mix until all ingredients are fully coated. Allow to simmer together for 1 to 2 minutes.
06 - Remove from heat. Garnish with fresh parsley, additional Parmesan, and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Uses everyday pantry and fridge staples
  • Ready in 30 minutes so ideal for weeknights
  • Ultra creamy with a savory garlic kick and real Parmesan flavor
  • Crowd-pleaser that works for family dinners or guests
02 -
  • High in protein thanks to the chicken
  • Parmesan adds calcium and deep umami
  • Makes tasty leftovers for lunch the next day
03 -
  • Let the chicken get deeply golden before removing for the best flavor
  • Freshly grated Parmesan melts smoother and avoids clumping
  • If using dried pasta use a timer and lean toward undercooking at first so it does not get mushy
  • Reserve more pasta water than you think you will need to fine tune your sauce texture

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