Description
Tender chicken, luscious garlic butter sauce, and rigatoni cooked to perfection, all smothered in a rich Parmesan cream. This ultimate comfort meal comes together in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces rigatoni
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and season with salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and sear for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter and add minced garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, then stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer and whisk in the Parmesan cheese until smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and toss in the cooked rigatoni. Stir until the pasta is fully coated in the creamy sauce.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan and chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best results. Avoid overcooking the chicken to keep it tender.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Creamy pasta, Garlic butter chicken, Rigatoni recipe, Parmesan sauce, Quick dinner