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Cowboy butter chicken pasta

Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta

Tender chicken in spicy garlic herb butter sauce tossed with pasta creates this bold, creamy dish perfect for weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Pasta
Cuisine: American
Calories: 685
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb chicken breasts,cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 12 oz pasta (fettuccine or penne)
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)

Method
 

  1. Sprinkle salt and black pepper all over chicken pieces so they taste really good.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in big skillet on medium-high heat for about 2 minutes until melted.
  3. Add chicken to hot skillet and cook 6 to 7 minutes until golden and cooked through.
  4. Take cooked chicken out of skillet and put it on a plate while you make sauce.
  5. Bring big pot of salted water to boil, then add pasta and cook 9 to 11 minutes.
  6. Drain cooked pasta but save 1 cup of that starchy water for adjusting sauce later.
  7. Melt 6 tablespoons butter in same skillet on medium heat for about 1 minute until bubbling.
  8. Add garlic, paprika, and cayenne to butter, stirring for 1 minute until it smells amazing.
  9. Pour heavy cream and lemon juice into skillet, whisking everything into a smooth creamy sauce.
  10. Stir in parsley and chives, then simmer sauce 3 to 4 minutes until it gets thicker.
  11. Put cooked chicken back in skillet with drained pasta, tossing everything together until well coated.
  12. Add saved pasta water little by little if you need more sauce to coat everything nicely.
  13. Taste it and add more salt, pepper, or cayenne based on what you like best.
  14. Serve hot right away, adding extra fresh herbs, grated parmesan, and red pepper flakes if you want..

Notes

  • Cut the chicken into the same-sized pieces so everything cooks evenly and gets done at the same time.
  • Fresh herbs taste way brighter and better than dried, so they're totally worth grabbing.
  • Start with less cayenne if you're not sure about spice, then add more as needed.
  • That starchy pasta water helps the sauce stick to the noodles and makes everything taste better.
  • When reheating leftovers, add a little cream or milk so the sauce gets creamy again.