Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta
This cozy, creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta features tender chicken, a rich buttery-cream sauce, and your favorite pasta, perfect for weeknight comfort food.
Ingredients
Pasta Ingredients
- 12 ounces Pasta of your choice (e.g., penne or fettuccine)
Chicken Ingredients
- 1 pound Chicken breast, boneless and skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces (use halal-certified chicken)
Sauce Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons Butter (unsalted is recommended for better flavor control)
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 medium Onion, diced
- 1 cup Heavy cream (or substitute with coconut milk for a lighter option)
- 1 cup Chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Cooking the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente (typically 8–10 minutes).
- Once cooked, reserve 1 cup of pasta water, drain the pasta, and set it aside.
Sautéing the Chicken
- In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the diced chicken pieces and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook for about 6–8 minutes until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, stirring occasionally. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Creating the Sauce
- In the same skillet, add the remaining butter and sauté the minced garlic and diced onion until translucent (about 3–4 minutes).
- Scrape up any browned bits left from the chicken, as they add concentrated flavor.
Adding Cream and Broth
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine.
- Add the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, and let the sauce simmer gently for about 5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- If it becomes too thick, use your reserved pasta water to adjust the consistency.
Combining Pasta and Chicken
- Return the cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce.
- Toss everything together to ensure the chicken and pasta are coated in the creamy sauce, and cook for another 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
Serving
- Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top and let it melt into the dish.
- Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
For a lighter dairy-free option, choose the thicker canned coconut milk. Reserve pasta water for achieving silky sauce consistency. Adjust spice level with more red pepper flakes if desired.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 650kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 35gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 15gSodium: 800mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2g
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