Description

This Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a rich and flavorful dish combining tender pan-seared chicken breasts with a luscious garlic butter cream sauce, tossed together with perfectly cooked fettuccine or penne pasta. It’s an easy, comforting meal perfect for weeknight dinners that delivers restaurant-quality taste with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

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

Pasta & Sauce

8 oz fettuccine or penne pasta
3 tbsp unsalted butter (divided, 2 tbsp for cooking chicken, 1 tbsp for sauce)
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional garnish: extra Italian seasoning or Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine or penne pasta and cook until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside for later.
Cook the chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt, pepper, and 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F). Remove the chicken from the skillet and allow it to rest.
Make the garlic butter cream sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and minced garlic. Sauté the garlic over medium heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in the heavy cream, stirring continuously until the sauce begins to thicken slightly, about 3-4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Combine pasta and chicken: Slice the rested chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken pieces and the drained pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce. Toss gently to combine and ensure everything is evenly coated in the sauce.
Serve: Plate the creamy cowboy butter chicken pasta while hot. Garnish with additional Italian seasoning or grated Parmesan cheese if desired for an extra burst of flavor.

Notes

For best results, do not overcook the pasta; al dente texture holds up better when tossed in sauce.
You can substitute chicken thighs if preferred; adjust cooking time accordingly.
To make this dish lighter, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, but the sauce will be less rich.
Adding freshly chopped parsley or basil at the end can brighten the flavors.
Parmesan cheese is optional but highly recommended for an extra savory touch.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

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