Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta Recipe
Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a rich and comforting dish featuring tender, seasoned chicken breasts cooked to golden perfection and tossed with fettuccine pasta in a luscious butter and garlic cream sauce. This hearty recipe is perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal that comes together quickly with simple ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
Pasta
- 8 oz fettuccine or penne pasta
- Salted water for cooking pasta
Sauce
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter (divided: 2 tbsp for cooking chicken, 1 tbsp for sauce)
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
Optional Garnishes
- Extra Italian seasoning
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine or penne pasta and cook until al dente, about 9-11 minutes according to package instructions. Drain well and set aside.
- Cook Chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Meanwhile, season the chicken breasts evenly with salt, pepper, and 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and fully cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F/74°C). Remove from the skillet and allow to rest for a few minutes.
- Make Sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of butter and minced garlic. Sauté for about 1-2 minutes until garlic is fragrant but not browned. Pour in the heavy cream and cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-4 minutes.
- Combine: Slice the rested chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add the chicken and drained pasta back into the skillet with the creamy butter sauce. Gently toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are well coated in the sauce.
- Serve: Serve the creamy cowboy butter chicken pasta hot. Garnish with extra Italian seasoning or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese if desired for added flavor.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half, but the sauce will be less rich.
- Feel free to use penne or any pasta shape you prefer; fettuccine works best to hold the creamy sauce.
- Allowing the chicken to rest after cooking helps retain its juices and keep it tender.
- Adding fresh herbs like parsley or basil as garnish can brighten the dish.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor if choosing to garnish.
Keywords: Creamy Chicken Pasta, Butter Chicken Pasta, Easy Dinner Recipe, Cream Sauce Pasta, Stovetop Chicken Pasta, Italian Seasoning Chicken
