Description

Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a hearty and comforting dish featuring tender, seasoned chicken breasts cooked to perfection and tossed with fettuccine pasta in a rich and luscious garlic butter cream sauce. This recipe combines simple ingredients to create a flavorful, creamy pasta dinner that’s perfect for any night of the week.

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

Sauce

3 tbsp unsalted butter (total, including butter for chicken)
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: extra Italian seasoning or Parmesan cheese for garnish

Instructions

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine or penne pasta and cook until al dente, about 10-12 minutes depending on the 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 Italian seasoning. Cook the chicken for 6-7 minutes on each side or until golden brown and fully cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F). Remove the chicken from the skillet and allow it to rest.
Prepare the sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and the minced garlic. Sauté the garlic until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes, taking care not to burn it. Pour in the heavy cream and stir continuously until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Combine chicken and pasta with sauce: Slice the rested chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add the chicken and the drained pasta back into the skillet with the creamy garlic sauce. Toss gently to coat everything evenly in the sauce.
Serve: Dish out the creamy cowboy butter chicken pasta onto plates. Garnish with extra Italian seasoning or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

To ensure juicy chicken, do not overcook and allow it to rest before slicing.
You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, but the texture will be less creamy.
Italian seasoning can be replaced with a mix of dried basil, oregano, and thyme if preferred.
For added flavor, garnish with chopped fresh parsley or grated Parmesan cheese.
Use gluten-free pasta if you need a gluten-free option.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Creamy chicken pasta, butter chicken pasta, garlic cream sauce, fettuccine recipe, easy chicken pasta dinner