Garlic Butter Chicken Rigatoni (Printable)

Savory chicken, creamy garlic butter sauce, and Parmesan combine with rigatoni for a comforting pasta meal.

# What You’ll Need:

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01 - 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
02 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 0.5 cup chicken broth
07 - 1 cup heavy cream
08 - 0.75 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
10 - 0.5 teaspoon salt, or to taste
11 - 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

# How-To:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 0.5 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, season with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning, and sauté for 5–7 minutes until golden brown. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, melt unsalted butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes, scraping any browned bits from the pan.
04 - Stir heavy cream into the skillet and simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened. Add grated Parmesan cheese and mix until smooth. If the sauce is too thick, incorporate reserved pasta water gradually.
05 - Return cooked chicken to the skillet and toss with the sauce. Add drained rigatoni and mix thoroughly until evenly coated. Allow to simmer for 1–2 minutes.
06 - Remove from heat. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, additional Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes if preferred. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Quick to prepare
  • Rich, creamy sauce brings comforting flavor
02 -
  • Using reserved pasta water helps create a silky sauce texture
  • Freshly grated Parmesan melts smoother than pre-grated
03 -
  • Toss pasta and sauce over low heat to keep it creamy
  • Finish with fresh parsley for a burst of color and brightness
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