Description
A comforting dish featuring tender chicken bites in a rich creamy garlic sauce paired with Parmesan rigatoni pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 4 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- Salt to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Cook rigatoni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken pieces with olive oil, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to create a roux.
- Gradually whisk in the milk and chicken broth until smooth. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt to taste.
- Add the cooked rigatoni and seared chicken to the sauce. Stir to combine, ensuring everything is well coated.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown.
- Garnish with chopped green onions before serving.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider adding sautéed mushrooms or spinach before baking. Great for meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: chicken, pasta, creamy, garlic, Parmesan