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cowboy-butter-chicken-pasta-recipe--easy--creamy-and-flavorful---k-popkitchen_feature

Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta: Easy Creamy Weeknight Dinner

This cowboy butter chicken pasta brings bold Western flavors to your dinner table in just 30 minutes with a creamy garlic butter sauce infused with herbs and a hint of spice. It's a complete one-pan meal featuring tender chicken and pasta coated in a rich, comforting sauce that the whole family will love.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 650
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 8 oz pasta (linguine or fettuccine work best)
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1 tsp dried chives
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and half of the smoked paprika.
  3. In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
  4. In the same skillet, melt remaining butter. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  5. Add chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in heavy cream, remaining smoked paprika, cayenne, parsley, chives, and onion powder.
  6. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until sauce begins to thicken. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted.
  7. Return cooked chicken to the skillet along with the drained pasta. Toss everything together until well coated in the creamy cowboy butter sauce.
  8. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

Use fresh herbs if available for better flavor, don't overcook the chicken to keep it tender, reserve pasta water to thin sauce if needed, adjust cayenne pepper to control spice level