Description
This Cheesy Rigatoni with Garlic Parmesan Chicken recipe is a rich, creamy pasta dish loaded with tender chicken, garlic parmesan sauce, and rigatoni. A perfect weeknight comfort food dinner and easy pasta meal idea.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
12 oz rigatoni pasta
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
3 tbsp butter
1 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Pat chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. Let rest for 10 minutes.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Sear chicken over medium-high heat for 6–7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
3. Boil rigatoni in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain the rest.
4. In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté remaining garlic until fragrant.
5. Stir in heavy cream and simmer for 2 minutes. Whisk in parmesan cheese until fully melted and smooth.
6. Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
7. Toss rigatoni in the sauce and let it simmer for 1–2 minutes.
8. Slice chicken and serve over the cheesy pasta. Garnish with parsley if using.
Notes
Let chicken rest after seasoning for deeper flavor penetration.
Freshly grated parmesan melts better than pre-shredded.
Use pasta water to thin the sauce if it gets too thick during tossing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 39g
- Cholesterol: 120mg