Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta Recipe: Easy, Creamy and Flavorful Recipe
Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is an easy, creamy, and flavorful dish combining tender chicken breast pieces, pasta, and a rich butter-garlic cream sauce seasoned with Italian herbs and red pepper flakes. This one-pan skillet recipe delivers comforting, savory goodness perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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 substitute with coconut milk for a lighter option)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 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, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining, then set the pasta and water aside.
- Sauté Chicken: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, stirring occasionally. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Create the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining butter and sauté the minced garlic and diced onion until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. This step builds a flavorful base for the sauce.
- Add Cream and Broth: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine. Stir in the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer gently for about 5 minutes until it thickens slightly. If too thick, add reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
- Combine Pasta and Chicken: Return the cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Toss to coat everything evenly and cook for another 2 minutes to marry the flavors.
- Serve: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta and let it melt. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve the Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Use unsalted butter to better control the saltiness of the dish.
- For a lighter alternative, substitute heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Reserve pasta water helps to adjust sauce consistency and helps coat pasta better.
- Fresh parsley adds a fresh herbal note and visual appeal but can be omitted if unavailable.
Keywords: chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, butter chicken pasta, one pan pasta, easy chicken dinner, Italian seasoning pasta
