Description
Indulgent Cheesy Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Rigatoni is a creamy, flavorful pasta dish featuring tender, seasoned chicken bites sautéed in garlic butter, combined with a rich Parmesan cream sauce and perfectly cooked rigatoni. This hearty and comforting meal comes together in just 30 minutes, making it ideal for a quick yet satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 pound Chicken Breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
Cooking and Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 3 cloves Garlic, freshly minced
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
Pasta and Garnish
- 8 ounces Rigatoni Pasta
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and pat dry with paper towels. Season evenly with salt, black pepper, and paprika to build the base flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil and unsalted butter together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted and the pan is hot, add the chicken pieces. Cook them for 4-5 minutes on each side until they develop a golden-brown crust and are cooked through.
- Cook the Pasta: In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta to use later in the sauce if needed for consistency.
- Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: Return the skillet to medium heat. Add any remaining butter and the minced garlic. Sauté the garlic for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned. Slowly stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, allowing the sauce to simmer for 3-4 minutes until it thickens and becomes creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Chicken with Sauce: Gently fold the drained rigatoni and seared chicken into the creamy Alfredo sauce in the skillet, ensuring every piece is well coated with the cheesy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water to loosen it to your desired consistency.
- Serve and Garnish: Plate the cheesy garlic butter chicken bites with rigatoni immediately. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired for an extra savory finish.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and smooth sauce texture.
- Adjust the paprika quantity to your spice tolerance—more for heat, less for mildness.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, reserved pasta water helps to loosen it without watering down the flavor.
- Chicken breasts can be substituted with chicken thighs for a juicier alternative.
- Rigatoni can be swapped for penne or other tube-shaped pastas depending on preference.