Description
Garlic Butter Chicken with Rigatoni and Parmesan is a creamy, flavorful dish perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Tender chicken pieces are cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce and tossed with rigatoni pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta (or your favorite short pasta)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
- ¼ cup heavy cream (optional, for extra creaminess)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup reserved pasta water (you may not need it all)
- Fresh parsley, finely chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the rigatoni pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and let it melt. Pour in heavy cream (if using) and stir to combine.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce.
- Add the drained rigatoni pasta and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor.
- Adjust seasoning to your taste.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Heavy cream is optional but adds extra creaminess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: garlic butter chicken, rigatoni pasta, creamy pasta, parmesan chicken