Description
Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken Rigatoni is the ultimate quick dinner: an easy recipe where golden chicken, al dente rigatoni, and a silky garlic-butter Parmesan cream sauce unite for a cozy, weeknight-friendly meal. Perfect for dinner ideas, easy dinner, and food ideas the whole family loves—rich, satisfying, and ready in about 35 minutes.
Ingredients
12 oz rigatoni pasta
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes
3 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
1 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
salt to taste
black pepper to taste
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; cook rigatoni to al dente, reserve 1 cup pasta water, drain.
2. Heat 1 tbsp butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high; season chicken with salt, pepper, and half the Italian seasoning; sear 5–6 minutes until cooked; transfer to a plate.
3. Reduce heat to medium; add remaining 2 tbsp butter; sauté garlic 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Stir in chicken broth and heavy cream, scraping browned bits; add Parmesan, remaining Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes; simmer 3–4 minutes to thicken.
5. Return chicken; add rigatoni; toss, splashing in reserved pasta water as needed for a glossy, clinging sauce.
6. Finish with parsley and extra Parmesan; taste and adjust salt and pepper; serve hot.
Notes
Deglaze with a splash of dry white wine after sautéing garlic for extra depth.
Use room-temperature dairy and avoid high heat after adding cream to prevent curdling.
Reserve and use starchy pasta water to emulsify and loosen the sauce as needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 540
- Fat: 26
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 31
- Cholesterol: 125
Keywords: quick dinner, easy recipe, creamy pasta, garlic butter chicken rigatoni, weeknight dinner, family friendly, one-pan pasta, dinner ideas, easy dinner, food ideas