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Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta

creamy cowboy butter chicken pasta - featured image
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A rich and savory Southern-inspired weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken thighs, al dente pasta, and a luxurious herb-infused butter cream sauce.

Ingredients

  • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • Penne or rigatoni pasta
  • Unsalted butter
  • Fresh minced garlic
  • Chopped green onions
  • Fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • Heavy cream
  • Chicken broth
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • Italian seasoning
  • Olive oil

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, reserving 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. Pat chicken thighs dry and season both sides generously with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil. Sear chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (165°F). Remove and set aside.
  4. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt butter. Add garlic and green onions, sautéing for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  5. Stir in fresh parsley and red pepper flakes.
  6. Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 1 minute to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits.
  7. Lower heat to medium-low. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, whisking until smooth. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to thicken slightly.
  8. Slice the cooked chicken. Add chicken and drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly in the sauce. Add reserved pasta water if needed.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  10. Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley or red pepper flakes.

Notes

Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Do not burn the garlic. Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F. This dish does not freeze well due to the cream sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: cowboy butter, chicken pasta, creamy pasta, southern recipe, weeknight dinner, easy chicken recipe, one pan meal

Find it online: https://cooltastes.com/creamy-cowboy-butter-chicken-pasta-easy-southern-chicken-recipe/