Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta
Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a comforting, flavor-packed dinner made with tender chicken, buttery garlic sauce, and a rich, creamy finish. Ready in just 30 minutes, this stovetop pasta delivers bold, savory flavor perfect for busy weeknights or cozy family meals.
Equipment
- large pot
- large skillet
- colander
- wooden spoon or tongs
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta
- 1 lb chicken breast, diced
- 4 tbsp butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 6–8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Sauté the garlic and onion for 3–4 minutes until soft and fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Stir in Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, then simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Return the cooked chicken and pasta to the skillet. Toss until evenly coated, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Remove from heat. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, then serve warm.
Notes
Reserve pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency as needed. Cook chicken just until done to keep it juicy. This recipe is easy to adapt for gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegetarian diets using simple substitutions.