Description
Garlic butter rigatoni with chicken showcases Italian comfort cuisine at its finest. Parmesan-coated pasta and tender chicken create a luxurious meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 grams) chicken fillets, boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz (340 grams) rigatoni pasta
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 tbsps butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Immerse rigatoni in heavily salted boiling water, cooking until perfectly al dente, then thoroughly drain while preserving a small quantity of pasta water for potential sauce adjustment.
- Chicken Seasoning and Searing: Liberally coat chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, then sizzle in melted butter within a spacious skillet over medium heat until achieving a golden-brown exterior and complete internal cooking, approximately 6-8 minutes.
- Aromatic Sauce Foundation: Remove chicken momentarily, then introduce minced garlic to the identical skillet, gently sautéing until fragrant and translucent, deglaze with chicken broth to capture caramelized pan essences.
- Sauce Transformation: Seamlessly incorporate heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese, whisking continuously until developing a luxuriously smooth, velvety sauce that gently simmers and thickens, melding complex flavor profiles.
- Final Assembly: Reunite seared chicken with creamy sauce, carefully fold in drained rigatoni, ensuring comprehensive and uniform coating, potentially utilizing reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if necessary.
- Presentation: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, serving immediately to preserve optimal temperature and textural integrity of the dish.
Notes
- Perfect Pasta Texture: Cook rigatoni exactly al dente to prevent mushiness and ensure optimal sauce absorption.
- Seasoning Strategy: Generously coat chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning for deep, layered flavor development.
- Sauce Smoothness Technique: Whisk constantly when adding chicken broth and cream to prevent lumps and create silky consistency.
- Cheese Melting Wisdom: Grate Parmesan fresh and add gradually to help it melt smoothly without clumping in the creamy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 715
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 43 g
- Saturated Fat: 25 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 170 mg