Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breast pieces cooked in a buttery garlic sauce, tossed with pasta and Parmesan cheese for a rich and hearty meal ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or your choice)
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Sauce and Seasonings
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup heavy cream (or coconut milk for a lighter version)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, adjust to taste)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water until it reaches an al dente texture. Reserve half a cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Cook the chicken: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Season the bite-sized chicken pieces with salt and black pepper. Cook the chicken in the skillet for 5 to 7 minutes until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté onion and garlic: Using the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes until the onion is soft and the garlic is fragrant.
- Make the sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Stir in Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine pasta and chicken: Return the cooked chicken pieces to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss everything to coat evenly with the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water to loosen it. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce becomes creamy.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- You can substitute heavy cream with coconut milk for a lighter, dairy-free version.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control the spiciness according to your preference.
- Reserve pasta water to help adjust the sauce consistency as needed.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for a richer flavor and better melting quality.
- Fresh parsley adds a nice color and fresh flavor but is optional.
