Description
Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken Rigatoni is my go-to easy dinner when I want maximum comfort with minimal fuss. Tender chicken, ridged rigatoni, and a silky garlic-butter cream sauce come together in 30 minutes—perfect for quick weeknight meals, dinner ideas, or a cozy food ideas lineup. It’s an easy recipe that eats like restaurant pasta and doubles as a hearty quick lunch or healthy-ish snack (portion-dependent!).
Ingredients
12 oz rigatoni
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp unsalted butter
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; cook rigatoni until just al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water and drain.
2. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high; sear chicken 6–8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
3. Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, melt butter; add garlic and cook 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
4. Stir in heavy cream; simmer gently 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. Add Parmesan; stir until smooth.
5. Return chicken and add rigatoni; toss, loosening with splashes of pasta water until the sauce coats the pasta.
6. Season to taste with additional salt/pepper and red pepper flakes if using.
7. Finish with parsley, more Parmesan if desired, and serve hot.
Notes
Salt in layers for full flavor; use pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
Avoid boiling the cream after adding cheese to keep sauce smooth.
Brown the butter lightly for extra flavor before adding garlic.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta, Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: quick dinner, easy pasta, creamy chicken rigatoni, garlic butter, weeknight meal, dinner ideas, easy recipe, food ideas