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–+ servings
A plate of Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta with fettuccine noodles, creamy sauce, and chicken pieces, garnished with parsley.

Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta

A quick and satisfying dinner that combines creamy, flavorful cowboy butter sauce with tender chicken and pasta. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and is sure to please the whole family.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.5 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp salted butter
For the Pasta
  • 12 oz uncooked linguine pasta about 3/4 pkg.
For the Cowboy Butter Sauce
  • 4 Tbsp salted butter
  • 0.75 cup shallots finely chopped
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp crushed red pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1.5 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 0.66 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 0.5 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tbsp minced fresh flat-leaf parsley divided
  • 2 Tbsp minced fresh chives
  • 0.5 cup pasta water reserved

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Pot

Method
 

  1. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 tsp. salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 6-8 minutes, until chicken is browned and cooked through. Remove chicken from pan and set aside. Do not wipe pan clean.
  2. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package instructions for al dente, adding 2 teaspoons kosher salt to water. Before draining the pasta, measure out 1/2 cup pasta water and set aside.
  3. Melt remaining 1/4 cup butter over medium-high heat. Add shallot, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook 5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Stir in lemon juice and zest; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  4. Add cream and bring to a light simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes. Gradually stir in cheese until melted and smooth. Stir in chicken, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley and chives.
  5. Add drained pasta to chicken mixture. Turn heat to low, stir in 1/4 cup pasta water, and toss until pasta is coated in sauce, cooking 2-3 minutes longer. If sauce is too thick, add additional pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency has been reached. Serve sprinkled with remaining 1 tablespoon parsley.

Notes

This Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a hearty and flavorful meal that comes together quickly. Adjust the pasta water to reach your desired sauce consistency.

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