This is the perfect recipe to use up those rotisserie chicken leftovers that are not enough on their own and make a pasta meal the whole family will devour.
Garlic Butter Rotisserie Chicken Pasta
Last time I made this recipe for my family, I stood over the stove with a fork and ate the penne straight out of the pot while looking over my shoulder to check that no one was looking. The garlic butter sauce is a breeze to make and is what makes this rotisserie chicken pasta stand out from most pasta night recipes.
The recipe itself is super simple and helps you stretch leftovers into a rotisserie chicken meal without making you feel like you’re eating leftovers again. You can use pieces or shredded rotisserie chicken, anything works!
Ingredients
Below you’ll find the recipe card with the measurements for this rotisserie chicken pasta and the garlic butter recipe. Before you make any swaps or omit, here is what’s needed:
- Pasta: I use penne pasta; you can use your favorite.
- Rotisserie chicken: you’ll need about ½ of a rotisserie chicken, but if you have more use more or use less, the recipe is very generous and filling.
- Olive oil: makes the sauce and gives it a rich flavor.
- Butter: combined with the olive oil gives the sauce a rich taste without adding cream.
- Garlic: grated, minced, or garlic paste there’s plenty to go around in this recipe.
- Salt: for seasoning.
- Red pepper flakes: adds a hint of heat.
- Herbs: fresh herbs or dried are noted in the recipe, super flexible recipe!
- Parmesan cheese: makes the entire dish THAT much better.
Best Herbs and Spices for Chicken Pasta
Chicken and pasta are both neutral-flavored, which means they pair great with any herb and spice you want to add! Try fresh parsley, thyme, lemon thyme, or basil. You can also use dried Italian seasoning, dried parsley, or a combination of dried parsley and oregano.
How to Make Rotisserie Chicken Pasta
If you can cook pasta, you can make this delicious dinner! It takes no time to turn pasta, rotisserie chicken, and a few extra ingredients into a tasty 20-minute family dinner that will make everyone ask on repeat:
- Cook the pasta
Cook the pasta as usual. While it cooks, you’ll make the sauce. When the pasta is nearly done but a little tough, add the chicken to warm it up and make it moist again. - Make the sauce
In a saucepan, combine olive oil, butter, garlic, salt, and red pepper flakes or ground black pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes, until the garlic is golden and fragrant but not burned. If using Italian seasoning, add it to the sauce to soften the seasonings. - Combine
Pour the garlic sauce over the pasta, sprinkle parmesan cheese if using, and toss to combine.
First time making this recipe? Watch this quick recipe video to see how it’s done!
Olive Oil and Butter Pasta Sauce
Using both olive oil and butter gives the pasta sauce the delicious flavors of the olive oil and the rich and creamy texture of the butter. Most importantly, the high smoke point of the olive oil lets you toast the garlic without browning the butter.
Quick Sides for this Recipe
Rotisserie Chicken Pasta is a terrific meal by itself, but I always love to add a side for sneaking extra nutrition, like this simple Bruschetta Salad, a light Corn and Tomato Salad, or this Easy Side Salad. It takes 5 minutes to assemble any of these, and you have extra veggies for dinner!
If you crave a warm side for pasta without giving up nutrition, make these quick Steamed Green Beans, Sautéed Cabbage, or Spicy Asparagus in a Pan. Delicious, good for you and ready to serve in less than 15 minutes!
More Recipes to Make with Leftover Rotisserie Chicken
Dinner recipes with rotisserie chicken save me tons of time in the kitchen, so when I buy a whole rotisserie chicken, I use half for this chicken pasta and the other half in many different ways! One chicken = many epic dinners!
Grab that half leftover chicken and make a delicious Rotisserie Chicken Alfredo, this hearty Chicken Noodle Soup, my Chicken Taco Soup, or even my Rotisserie Chicken Chili. More of the hand-held meal team? You’re going to love these Chicken Pita Wraps and these tasty Rotisserie Chicken Tacos!
Garlic & Herb Rotisserie Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 16 ounces penne pasta
- 2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken, about ½ rotisserie
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or ground pepper
- ¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley or
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
Cook the pasta:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. While the pasta cooks, make the sauce.
- A couple of minutes before draining the water, when the pasta is nearly done but a little tough, add the chopped chicken to the pasta. This will heat up the chopped chicken and make it moist again.
- Drain the water and return the pasta and chicken to the pot.
Make the sauce:
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the olive oil, butter, garlic, salt, and red pepper flakes or ground black pepper. Cook the mixture for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the garlic is toasted to a golden color and fragrant but not burned. If you’re using Italian seasoning, add it to the sauce to soften the seasonings. Turn off the heat.
Combine:
- Pour the garlic sauce over the pasta, and add the fresh parsley and parmesan cheese. Toss to combine, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce.