Description

Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a rich and comforting dish featuring tender sautéed chicken breasts tossed in a luscious garlic-infused butter and heavy cream sauce, combined with perfectly cooked fettuccine or penne pasta. This hearty meal is ideal for a delicious weeknight dinner that everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp unsalted butter (for cooking chicken)

Pasta

8 oz fettuccine or penne pasta
Salt (for pasta water)

Sauce

3 tbsp unsalted butter (total)
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
Additional Italian seasoning or plant-based cheese for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
Sauté the Chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest.
Make the Sauce: In the same skillet used for the chicken, melt the remaining butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Pour in the heavy cream and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
Combine Everything: Slice the rested chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add the chicken and the drained pasta back into the skillet with the creamy sauce. Toss everything together carefully to coat the pasta and chicken fully with the sauce.
Serve: Divide the creamy cowboy butter chicken pasta among plates. Garnish with additional Italian seasoning or plant-based cheese if desired, and serve immediately while hot.

Notes

For a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a mixture of milk and cream, though the sauce will be less thick.
You can use gluten-free pasta to make the dish gluten-free.
To add extra flavor, consider topping with fresh parsley or grated Parmesan cheese.
Ensure not to overcook pasta to maintain an ideal al dente texture.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Sautéing and boiling
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
Calories: 560 kcal
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 350 mg
Fat: 35 g
Saturated Fat: 20 g
Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
Trans Fat: 0.5 g
Carbohydrates: 34 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 38 g
Cholesterol: 125 mg

Keywords: butter chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, cowboy butter sauce, chicken fettuccine, creamy garlic pasta