Description
Succulent garlic butter chicken dances with rigatoni in a luscious parmesan sauce, creating an irresistible Italian-inspired comfort meal. Creamy, rich flavors meld together, promising a delightful culinary experience you’ll savor with every forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Pasta:
- 12 ounces (12 oz) rigatoni pasta
Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Boil the rigatoni in salted water until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Drain and reserve.
- Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high temperature. Sear chicken until golden and fully cooked, approximately 6-7 minutes per side.
- Transfer chicken to a separate plate, leaving residual butter in the skillet.
- Reduce heat to medium and sauté minced garlic in remaining butter for 30-45 seconds until aromatic.
- Pour chicken broth into the skillet, scraping browned bits from bottom. Allow liquid to simmer and reduce by one-third.
- Introduce heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, whisking continuously until sauce transforms into a smooth, velvety consistency.
- Gently fold cooked chicken and rigatoni into the creamy sauce, ensuring complete coating.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the dish for vibrant color and enhanced flavor.
- Serve immediately while sauce remains warm and glossy.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by toasting garlic gently to prevent burning and release its rich, nutty essence without bitterness.
- Slice chicken into uniform pieces for even cooking, ensuring each bite is tender and perfectly seasoned throughout the dish.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for superior melting and deeper, more complex flavor compared to pre-packaged alternatives.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting regular pasta with zucchini noodles or gluten-free rigatoni without compromising the creamy sauce’s deliciousness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 677 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 674 mg
- Fat: 41 g
- Saturated Fat: 24 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 46 g
- Cholesterol: 142 mg