Garlic Butter Chicken with Rigatoni (Print Version)

Tender chicken and rigatoni pasta in a rich, creamy garlic butter sauce topped with Parmesan for a quick, satisfying meal.

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 340g rigatoni pasta

→ Protein

02 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Sauce

03 - 2 tbsp olive oil
04 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
05 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 120ml chicken broth
07 - 240ml heavy cream
08 - 180g freshly grated Parmesan cheese

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 tsp Italian seasoning
10 - ½ tsp salt, or to taste
11 - ½ tsp black pepper
12 - ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, and cook for 5-7 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
04 - Stir in the heavy cream and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Add the Parmesan cheese and mix until smooth. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a bit of reserved pasta water.
05 - Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss it in the sauce. Add the rigatoni and mix until fully coated. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes.
06 - Remove from heat and garnish with fresh parsley, extra Parmesan, and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve warm.

# Notes:

01 - This is a rich, creamy, and comforting pasta dish perfect for any occasion. Quick to prepare and incredibly satisfying, it makes a great weeknight dinner or an impressive meal for guests.