Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta
Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a bold, creamy pasta dish made with juicy chicken, garlic-herb cowboy butter, a touch of lemon, and optional cream for richness. It’s a quick, one-pan dinner that delivers big flavor without complicated steps.
Ingredients
Chicken & Pasta
- 12 oz penne pasta rotini, or shells
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
Cowboy Butter Sauce
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes to taste
Creamy Finish (Optional)
- ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- Fresh parsley chopped
- Extra Parmesan optional
Instructions
Cook the pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
Cook the chicken
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Cook until golden and fully cooked. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Make the cowboy butter sauce
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, stir in garlic and cook for 30–45 seconds until fragrant. Add Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes.
Add cream (optional)
- Lower heat and stir in cream, if using. Let the sauce warm gently—do not boil.
Combine everything
- Return chicken to the skillet. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
Finish and serve
- Stir in Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve warm.
Notes
- For a lighter version, skip the cream and rely on butter and pasta water.
- Add spinach or mushrooms for extra vegetables.
- Control spice by adjusting red pepper flakes.
Nutrition
Calories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 34gFat: 24g
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