Description
A creamy, comforting pasta dish featuring juicy seared chicken paired with tender rigatoni, smothered in a rich Velveeta and mozzarella garlic sauce. This family-style favorite comes together easily and satisfies every cheesy craving. Perfect for cozy dinners or when you want to impress without the fuss.
Ingredients
12 oz rigatoni pasta
1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
2 cups Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup heavy cream
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.
2. In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil and sear chicken until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and let rest before slicing into strips.
3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni until al dente. Drain and set aside.
4. In a saucepan, melt a bit of olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
5. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Add Velveeta cubes and stir until fully melted and smooth.
6. Stir in mozzarella and mix until the sauce is thick and stretchy.
7. Add the drained rigatoni to the sauce and stir to coat evenly. Keep warm on low heat.
8. Serve rigatoni on plates and top with sliced chicken. Garnish with chopped parsley if using.
Notes
Let the cheese sauce melt over low heat only to avoid separating or curdling.
For a lighter version, you can substitute half and half in place of heavy cream.
Freshly grated mozzarella melts better than pre-shredded; use block cheese when possible.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American Comfort
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 710
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 39g
- Cholesterol: 165mg
Keywords: creamy chicken pasta, Velveeta rigatoni, mozzarella garlic sauce