Description

This creamy cowboy butter chicken pasta combines tender, seasoned chicken breasts with a rich and velvety garlic butter cream sauce. Tossed with your choice of fettuccine or penne pasta, this recipe offers an indulgent and comforting meal perfect for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Seasonings

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

Pasta

8 oz fettuccine or penne pasta

Sauce and Cooking

3 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced

Instructions

Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine or penne pasta and cook until al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
Cook Chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Meanwhile, season the chicken breasts evenly with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and allow it to rest for a few minutes.
Prepare Creamy Sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and minced garlic. Sauté the garlic until it becomes fragrant, taking care not to burn it. Pour in the heavy cream and stir continuously until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
Combine Ingredients: Slice the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken and the drained pasta to the skillet with the creamy garlic sauce. Toss gently until all the pasta and chicken are well coated with the sauce.
Serve: Serve hot, garnished with additional Italian seasoning or freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired for extra flavor and presentation.

Notes

Use fresh garlic for best flavor; garlic powder can be substituted in a pinch.
For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a mixture of milk and cream.
Parmesan cheese is optional but adds a nice salty finish to the dish.
The resting time for chicken helps keep it juicy and tender.
If you prefer more sauce, increase the heavy cream slightly or add a splash of chicken broth.

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

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