Description
This indulgent recipe features tender, cheesy garlic butter chicken bites served with perfectly cooked rigatoni pasta tossed in a creamy Parmesan Alfredo sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an easy, satisfying dish that combines savory flavors and comforting textures, perfect for a family dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 pound Chicken Breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 teaspoon Salt (for seasoning)
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper (for seasoning)
- 1 teaspoon Paprika (adjust based on spice preference)
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil (for sautéing)
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter (key for creamy sauce)
- 3 cloves Garlic (freshly minced)
Sauce and Pasta
- 1 cup Heavy Cream (for rich base)
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese (freshly grated)
- 8 ounces Rigatoni Pasta (can substitute with penne)
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and pat dry with paper towels. Season evenly with salt, black pepper, and paprika to enhance flavor.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil and unsalted butter together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot and melted, add the chicken pieces and sear for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through.
- Cook Rigatoni: Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Make Garlic Butter Sauce: Return skillet to medium heat, melt remaining butter, and add minced garlic. Sauté garlic for about 1 minute until fragrant. Then stir in heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Let sauce simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until it thickens to a creamy consistency.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked rigatoni and seared chicken into the sauce. Gently fold to fully coat the pasta and chicken with the creamy Alfredo sauce. If needed, use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Plate and Garnish: Serve immediately, garnishing with freshly chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese for an extra cheesy finish.
Notes
- You can substitute rigatoni with penne or any tubular pasta of your choice.
- Adjust paprika quantity to control the spiciness of the chicken bites.
- Using freshly grated Parmesan cheese significantly improves the flavor and texture of the sauce.
- Reserve pasta water to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or milk, but the sauce may be less rich.
- To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta instead of regular rigatoni.
