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Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 112 reviews

Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breast sautéed in butter, combined with a rich garlic and onion cream sauce, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese, all tossed with your choice of pasta. This easy-to-make recipe delivers a comforting, satisfying meal perfect for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 12 ounces pasta of your choice (e.g., penne or fettuccine)

Chicken

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces

Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 cup heavy cream (or coconut milk as a lighter substitute)
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Garnish

  • Fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, reserve 1 cup of pasta water, drain the pasta, and set it aside.
  2. Sauté Chicken: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add diced chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, stirring occasionally. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  3. Create the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Sauté minced garlic and diced onion until translucent, about 3-4 minutes, infusing the butter with flavor.
  4. Add Cream and Broth: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine. Add Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer gently for about 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
  5. Combine Pasta and Chicken: Return cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Toss everything together to coat in the creamy sauce and cook for another 2 minutes to meld flavors.
  6. Serve: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top and allow it to melt into the dish. Garnish with fresh parsley for color and freshness. Serve warm and enjoy your Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta.

Notes

  • You can substitute heavy cream with coconut milk for a lighter, dairy-free option.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes according to your desired spice level.
  • Reserving pasta water helps to adjust your sauce’s consistency without diluting flavor.
  • Use unsalted butter to better control seasoning and reduce sodium.
  • Fresh parsley adds a pop of color but can be omitted if unavailable.

Keywords: Creamy chicken pasta, Cowboy butter pasta, Easy chicken dinner, Garlic butter chicken pasta, One pan pasta dish

Find it online: https://nayabaker.com/cowboy-butter-chicken-pasta-recipe/