Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta Recipe
Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender, seasoned chicken breasts cooked to golden perfection and tossed with fettuccine or penne pasta in a rich and velvety garlic butter cream sauce. This easy-to-make recipe combines savory flavors of Italian seasoning and fresh garlic to create a satisfying family meal ready in under an hour.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning, divided
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
Pasta
- 8 oz fettuccine or penne pasta
Sauce
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes depending on pasta type. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Place them in the skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from skillet and let rest for a few minutes to retain juices.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and the minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Pour in the heavy cream and stir continuously until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine ingredients: Slice the rested chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken and drained pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce. Toss gently to coat evenly and warm through.
- Serve: Plate the creamy chicken pasta hot. Optionally, garnish with extra Italian seasoning or grated Parmesan cheese for added flavor.
Notes
- Use fettuccine or penne based on your preference; both work well with the creamy sauce.
- Resting the chicken after cooking helps keep it juicy and tender.
- Be sure to sauté the garlic gently to avoid a bitter taste.
- For a lighter version, you can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream but the sauce will be less rich.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or grated Parmesan cheese if desired for extra flavor and presentation.
Keywords: chicken pasta, creamy pasta, butter chicken, Italian seasoning, garlic pasta, easy dinner recipe
