Description

Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a comforting and rich dish perfect for cozy nights. This recipe features tender chicken breast sautéed with garlic and onions, tossed in a luscious buttery cream sauce infused with Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, then combined with perfectly cooked pasta. A hearty, flavorful, and easy-to-make meal that can be customized with gluten-free or vegan alternatives to suit various dietary preferences.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

8 ounces pasta (gluten-free pasta can be substituted)

Chicken

1 pound chicken breast (plant-based chicken can be used for a vegan option)

Sauce

4 tablespoons butter (use non-dairy butter for a vegan option)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 medium onion (yellow or white, diced)
1 cup heavy cream (coconut milk works as a great dairy-free alternative)
1 cup chicken broth (vegetable broth for vegetarian offering)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (nutritional yeast can be used for a vegan option)
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley (for garnish)

Instructions

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add your choice of pasta and cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until al dente. Once done, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water for later, then drain the pasta and set it aside in a colander while you prepare the sauce.
Cook the chicken: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the diced chicken breast, seasoning it generously with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken for about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until it’s golden brown and cooked through. Once finished, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
Sauté garlic and onions: In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, allowing it to melt completely. Introduce the minced garlic and diced onion, sautéing the mixture for about 3-4 minutes until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
Make the cream sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth into the skillet, stirring to combine the ingredients smoothly. Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let the sauce cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until it slightly thickens.
Combine chicken, pasta, and sauce: Return the cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce. Gently toss everything together for about 2 minutes, ensuring that the pasta and chicken are well coated in the sauce.
Serve: Once everything is well combined and heated through, serve the Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta warm, topped with a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese and a garnish of fresh parsley.

Notes

You can substitute gluten-free pasta and plant-based chicken along with non-dairy butter and coconut milk to make this dish vegan.
Adjust red pepper flakes according to your heat preference.
Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth to make the recipe vegetarian.
For extra flavor, add some smoked paprika or a splash of white wine to the sauce while simmering.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Creamy chicken pasta, cowboy butter chicken pasta, creamy pasta recipe, easy dinner pasta, stovetop chicken pasta