Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a rich, comforting dish featuring tender chicken tossed with pasta in a buttery, garlicky sauce infused with herbs and a gentle kick of spice. It’s the perfect balance of cozy and exciting, an easy weeknight dinner that feels special and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or fettuccine)
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp chili flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (plus more for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken pieces, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook until golden and fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in paprika, chili flakes, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2–3 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
- Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, stirring until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.
- Return chicken to the skillet and stir to coat in the cowboy butter sauce.
- Add cooked pasta and toss until everything is evenly combined.
- Finish with lemon juice and fresh parsley. Adjust seasoning if needed and serve warm.
Notes
- For a milder version, reduce chili flakes or omit them altogether.
- Substitute boneless skinless chicken thighs for extra flavor and juiciness.
- Use half-and-half in place of heavy cream for a lighter sauce, or reduce butter to 2 tablespoons.
- Garnish with extra parsley or grated Parmesan before serving.
- Leftovers reheat well in a skillet over low heat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: N/A
- Sugar: N/A
- Sodium: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Saturated Fat: N/A
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Fiber: N/A
- Protein: N/A
- Cholesterol: N/A
Keywords: Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta, creamy chicken pasta, garlic butter pasta, weeknight dinner, easy chicken pasta