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Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken and Rigatoni

Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken and Rigatoni
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Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken and Rigatoni is a comforting, flavorful dish combining tender chicken breasts, a rich garlic butter cream sauce, and perfectly cooked rigatoni pasta. Ready in about 30 minutes, it offers a quick, one-pan meal that’s family-friendly, versatile, and perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Pasta

  • 12 oz rigatoni pasta

Sauce

  • 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Other

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chicken for about 5-7 minutes on each side until golden and fully cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside to rest.
  2. Cook the Rigatoni: While the chicken cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving about a cup of pasta water for later use.
  3. Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: In the same skillet used for the chicken, add butter and minced garlic over medium heat. Sauté until fragrant and golden, about 1-2 minutes. Pour in the heavy cream and stir constantly, lowering the heat to medium-low so the sauce thickens slightly.
  4. Combine Everything: Slice the rested chicken and add it back to the skillet with the sauce. Stir in the cooked rigatoni, tossing until everything is evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
  5. Finish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan over the pasta and chicken and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot and enjoy every creamy, garlicky bite!

Notes

  • Use room temperature chicken for even cooking and juicy results.
  • Do not overcook the rigatoni; it should be al dente as it will soften when tossed with sauce.
  • Always mince fresh garlic for best aroma and flavor.
  • Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency without watering down flavor.
  • Cook garlic in butter rather than oil to amplify sauce richness.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy garlic butter chicken, rigatoni pasta, easy chicken dinner, one pan chicken pasta, creamy pasta recipe, family-friendly dinner, Italian chicken recipe

Find it online: https://mealsbymary.com/creamy-garlic-butter-chicken-and-rigatoni/