Description
A rich and comforting pasta dish made with golden garlic butter chicken and tender rigatoni, smothered in a creamy Alfredo sauce. Perfect for weeknights or when you want something indulgent, cheesy, and deeply satisfying.
Ingredients
12 oz rigatoni pasta
1 lb boneless chicken breast, cut into chunks
4 tbsp salted butter, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add chicken, season with salt and pepper, and sear until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove from skillet and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
4. Pour in heavy cream and whisk continuously. Simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
5. Add Parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Stir until fully melted and smooth. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
6. Return chicken to the skillet. Add cooked rigatoni and gently toss to coat everything in the sauce.
7. Garnish with fresh parsley if using. Serve warm.
Notes
Always use freshly grated Parmesan to avoid a gritty sauce. Pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as well.
If the sauce thickens too much when reheating, stir in a splash of cream or milk to loosen it.
Want to add veggies? Spinach, mushrooms, or broccoli make great additions to this creamy base.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 24g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 165mg
Keywords: chicken Alfredo, creamy rigatoni, garlic butter chicken pasta