Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a bold, creamy skillet dinner that pairs juicy chicken with garlic butter sauce and tender pasta for a comforting weeknight meal. Rich with paprika, parmesan, lemon, and a touch of parsley, it delivers savory, buttery goodness in 30 minutes. This one-pan dish is family-friendly, easy to make, and endlessly adaptable, with leftovers that taste even better the next day. Perfect for casual gatherings and meal-prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz pasta (penne or rotini)
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp chili flakes (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Optional: chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
- Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden and fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt remaining butter. Add garlic, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili flakes, parsley, and thyme. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice. Simmer gently until the sauce thickens.
- Add cooked pasta and chicken back to the skillet. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water if needed for a silky sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve hot.
Notes
- You can adjust heat by increasing or reducing chili flakes.
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Use heavy cream for a rich, silky sauce; for a lighter version, substitute with half-and-half (may affect thickness).
- Leftovers reheat well; store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Pasta shapes like penne or rotini work best.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 21 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 68 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
Keywords: Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta, creamy garlic butter chicken pasta, weeknight pasta dinner, skillet pasta, parmesan lemon sauce, easy pasta recipe, comforting family meal, bold flavors, dairy-rich pasta, chicken pasta recipe