Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta for Cozy Nights Recipe
Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for cozy nights. Tender chicken breast cooked in a rich, buttery garlic sauce combined with creamy pasta makes for an indulgent meal that’s easy to prepare. This versatile recipe also offers vegan and gluten-free substitutions, making it adaptable to various dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces pasta (gluten-free pasta can be substituted)
Chicken & Seasoning
- 1 pound chicken breast (plant-based chicken can be used for a vegan option)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter (use non-dairy butter for a vegan option)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 medium onion (yellow or white, diced)
- 1 cup heavy cream (coconut milk works as a great dairy-free alternative)
- 1 cup chicken broth (vegetable broth for vegetarian offering)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (nutritional yeast can be used for a vegan option)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add your choice of pasta and cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until al dente. Once done, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water for later, then drain the pasta and set it aside in a colander while you prepare the sauce.
- Cook the chicken: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the diced chicken breast, seasoning it generously with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken for about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until it’s golden brown and cooked through. Once finished, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
- Sauté aromatics: In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, allowing it to melt completely. Introduce the minced garlic and diced onion, sautéing the mixture for about 3-4 minutes until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
- Prepare the sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth into the skillet, stirring to combine the ingredients smoothly. Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let the sauce cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until it slightly thickens.
- Combine pasta and chicken: Return the cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce. Gently toss everything together for about 2 minutes, ensuring that the pasta and chicken are well coated in the sauce.
- Serve and garnish: Once everything is well combined and heated through, serve the Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta warm, topped with a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
Notes
- For a vegan version, substitute chicken with plant-based alternatives, butter with non-dairy butter, heavy cream with coconut milk, chicken broth with vegetable broth, and Parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
- Reserving pasta water helps to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Fresh parsley adds a nice pop of color and freshness when garnishing.
Keywords: creamy chicken pasta, cowboy butter chicken, creamy pasta recipe, comforting dinner, stovetop chicken pasta
