Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a bold and creamy one-pan dish combining tender chicken, rich buttery sauce with garlic, lemon, Dijon, and spices, tossed with pasta for a flavor-packed, comforting meal.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta (linguine, fettuccine, or penne)
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, sliced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and cook chicken until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and chicken broth. Simmer for 1–2 minutes.
- Stir in the heavy cream and cook until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Return the chicken to the pan. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat in the sauce.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese (if using) and chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control spice level.
- Use milk or half-and-half for a lighter version.
- Add spinach, tomatoes, or mushrooms for more veggies.
- Swap chicken with shrimp or steak for variety.
- For meal prep, store pasta and sauce separately and combine when reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
