Description
A comforting one-pan meal featuring tender chicken bites and creamy mozzarella rigatoni, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook rigatoni in salted water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, drain the rest and set aside.
- Season the chicken bites with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper for great flavor.
- Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken bites for 3-4 minutes per side until golden-brown on all edges. Remove and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium, then melt the remaining butter in the skillet. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth; bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add the cream cheese to the skillet and stir until smooth. Then mix in the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses until thick and glossy.
- Sprinkle in crushed red pepper flakes and add the drained rigatoni to the sauce, tossing to coat.
- Return the cooked chicken bites to the skillet and fold everything together.
- Garnish with fresh parsley before serving. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
For a healthier option, swap out the rigatoni for whole wheat or gluten-free pasta. Feel free to add vegetables like spinach or sun-dried tomatoes for extra nutrition.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: garlic butter chicken, creamy pasta, rigatoni, family meal, one-pan dinner