Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken and Rigatoni
Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken and Rigatoni is a comforting and rich one-pan dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a luscious garlic butter cream sauce with perfectly al dente rigatoni pasta. This quick and easy recipe delivers indulgent, homey flavors that are family-friendly and customizable for various dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 chicken breasts (tender and juicy)
Dairy
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Produce & Herbs
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Pantry
- 8 oz rigatoni pasta (uncooked)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add chicken, and cook until golden on both sides and cooked through (about 5-7 minutes per side). Remove chicken and set aside.
- Create the Garlic Butter Base: In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of butter. Add minced garlic and sauté gently for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Simmer the Sauce: Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer while scraping bits from the pan. Let cook until sauce slightly thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
- Cook the Rigatoni: Add uncooked rigatoni to the sauce, ensuring pasta is submerged. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until rigatoni is al dente and sauce is creamy and thickened.
- Finish and Combine: Slice cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and return to skillet. Stir in freshly grated Parmesan and chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use room temperature chicken for even cooking and juiciness.
- Cook garlic slowly over medium heat to avoid bitterness and develop deep flavor.
- Reserve some pasta water to loosen sauce if it becomes too thick.
- Grate Parmesan cheese fresh for best melting and flavor.
- Let sauce rest a few minutes off heat to meld flavors perfectly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: creamy garlic butter chicken, rigatoni recipe, easy chicken pasta, one-pot dinner, comfort food, creamy chicken rigatoni
