Description
Rich, creamy, and loaded with flavor, this Cheesy Garlic Butter Chicken Rigatoni in Creamy Alfredo Sauce is a comfort food dream come true. Tender bites of garlic butter-seared chicken are folded into a velvety homemade Alfredo sauce, then tossed with hearty rigatoni pasta to soak up every bit of creamy goodness. This is the perfect quick dinner for weeknights, family meals, or when you’re craving something indulgent and satisfying. Whether you’re searching for easy dinner ideas, pasta recipes, or the ultimate comfort food, this one hits all the marks — it’s the kind of quick dinner that looks fancy but comes together fast.
Ingredients
12 oz rigatoni pasta
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 ¼ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt (plus more for pasta water)
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
2. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
3. In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear until golden and cooked through, about 8–10 minutes. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, melt remaining butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Reduce heat to medium. Pour in heavy cream and stir to combine. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
6. Gradually add Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and sauce thickens. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Add cooked chicken back to the pan. Stir to coat in the Alfredo sauce.
8. Add cooked rigatoni and toss everything together. Use reserved pasta water to loosen sauce if needed.
9. Turn off heat, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve hot.
Notes
For the creamiest Alfredo, use freshly grated Parmesan — it melts better than pre-packaged shreds.
If the sauce thickens too much after combining with pasta, add a splash of pasta water or cream to bring it back.
Don’t overcook the garlic — sauté just until fragrant to avoid bitterness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 165mg
Keywords: chicken Alfredo, rigatoni pasta, easy dinner, comfort food, quick pasta recipe