Description

Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a rich and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a luscious garlic butter cream sauce, served over perfectly al dente fettuccine or penne pasta. This easy-to-make dinner combines hearty ingredients with Italian seasoning for a satisfying meal that’s perfect for weeknights or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
2 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp unsalted butter (for cooking chicken)

Pasta

8 oz fettuccine or penne pasta

Sauce

3 tbsp unsalted butter (total, including chicken cooking butter)
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream

Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Boil salted water in a large pot, add the pasta, and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside to keep warm.
Sauté the Chicken: In a skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook the chicken until golden brown and cooked thoroughly, approximately 6 to 7 minutes per side. Remove from heat and let the chicken rest before slicing.
Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce slightly thickens, which should take around 3 to 5 minutes.
Combine Everything: Slice the rested chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken and drained pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce. Toss everything together gently to ensure the pasta and chicken are evenly coated with the sauce.
Serve: Plate the pasta and chicken generously and garnish with additional Italian seasoning or optional plant-based cheese to enhance flavors. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

You can substitute fettuccine with penne or any preferred pasta shape.
For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half, but the sauce will be less rich.
Adding freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top can enhance flavor.
Make sure not to overcook the pasta to maintain perfect texture.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Sautéing, Boiling
Cuisine: American-Italian Fusion

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 610 kcal
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 320 mg
Fat: 38 g
Saturated Fat: 22 g
Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
Trans Fat: 0.3 g
Carbohydrates: 42 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 38 g
Cholesterol: 150 mg

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