Description
Delight in this creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta, featuring tender chicken, al dente pasta, and a rich buttery sauce infused with garlic and Italian seasoning.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces pasta of your choice (e.g., penne or fettuccine)
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente (typically 8-10 minutes). Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook undisturbed for about 6-8 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Toss in the minced garlic and diced onion, sautéing until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant (about 3-4 minutes).
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring gently to combine. Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly.
- Return the cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Toss everything together to coat in the sauce, cooking for an additional 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve warm.
Notes
Consider adding vegetables like spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, or broccoli for added nutrition. You can also customize the heat level by adjusting the red pepper flakes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 100mg