The Ultimate Guide to Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta
Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a rich, creamy, and slightly spicy pasta dish made with tender chicken, garlic butter sauce, Parmesan, and Italian spices.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (penne or fettuccine)
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken breast, bite-sized pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp butter (for cooking chicken)
Sauce
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Garnish
- Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Heat 2 tbsp butter in a skillet, season chicken with salt and pepper, and cook until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt remaining butter and sauté garlic and onion until fragrant and soft.
- Add heavy cream, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer 5 minutes.
- Return chicken and pasta to the skillet. Stir in Parmesan cheese.
- Mix well, adjust seasoning, and use pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Cook 2 more minutes, garnish with parsley, and serve hot.
Notes
- Use pasta water to adjust sauce thickness.
- Add extra chili flakes for more heat.
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts best.