Description
Garlic butter chicken and rigatoni highlight Italy’s rich culinary heritage with a luxurious parmesan sauce. Home cooks can effortlessly craft this restaurant-quality pasta dish that promises comfort and bold Mediterranean flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps butter
- 3 tbsps butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional, for depth of flavor)
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning (or a mix of oregano, basil, and thyme)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour (to thicken the sauce)
- 12 oz (340 g) rigatoni pasta (or penne, fusilli, or farfalle)
- Salted water for boiling
- 1 cup chicken broth (or pasta water for extra flavor)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella (optional, for extra cheesiness)
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped
- Extra Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, then cook rigatoni until perfectly al dente, reserving a small amount of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Chicken Seasoning: Thoroughly dry chicken pieces and generously season with herbs and black pepper, creating a flavorful exterior for optimal taste and caramelization.
- Searing Technique: Heat a skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat, carefully placing chicken to develop a rich golden-brown crust, cooking until reaching safe internal temperature with occasional turning.
- Aromatic Foundation: Reduce skillet heat and introduce minced garlic, allowing its intense fragrance to infuse the cooking environment, then add butter to create a luxurious sauce base.
- Sauce Composition: Pour heavy cream into the garlic-butter mixture, whisking continuously while incorporating grated parmesan cheese to develop a silky, smooth sauce with perfect consistency.
- Final Assembly: Combine cooked rigatoni with the creamy sauce, folding gently to ensure complete coating, and adjust sauce thickness using reserved pasta water if needed.
- Serving Presentation: Nestle cooked chicken pieces into the creamy pasta, garnish with fresh chopped parsley and additional parmesan to elevate both visual appeal and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Manage Moisture Levels: Reserve pasta water strategically to adjust sauce consistency, preventing dry or overly thick sauce when reheating or mixing ingredients.
- Chicken Searing Technique: Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning to achieve golden-brown caramelization, ensuring maximum flavor development and crispy exterior.
- Prevent Cheese Clumping: Gradually add parmesan cheese while continuously whisking to create smooth, silky sauce without unwanted lumpy textures.
- Temperature Control: Maintain medium-low heat when adding garlic and creating sauce to prevent burning and preserve delicate flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg