Description

Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish combining tender seasoned chicken thighs with fettuccine pasta, a rich butter-garlic sauce, and fresh cherry tomatoes. Enhanced with smoked paprika, cayenne, and parmesan, this hearty meal offers a perfect balance of smoky, spicy, and savory flavors, ideal for a comforting weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

8 ounces of fettuccine pasta

Chicken and Seasoning

1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of onion powder
1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)

Sauce and Garnishes

2 tablespoons of olive oil
4 tablespoons of unsalted butter
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup of chicken broth
1/2 cup of heavy cream
1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup of chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Instructions

Cook the pasta: Begin by cooking the fettuccine pasta according to the package directions in a large pot of salted boiling water. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
Season the chicken: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.
Cook the chicken: Add the seasoned chicken to the skillet and cook for about 7-10 minutes, or until the chicken is browned and cooked through, stirring occasionally. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
Prepare the garlic butter sauce: In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and add the butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, making sure not to burn it.
Add chicken broth: Pour in the chicken broth and bring it to a simmer. Allow it to cook for about 3-5 minutes until slightly reduced.
Add heavy cream: Stir in the heavy cream and cook for an additional 2 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
Combine ingredients: Add the cherry tomatoes, cooked chicken, and drained fettuccine to the skillet, tossing to combine. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water until you reach the desired consistency.
Finish the dish: Stir in the chopped parsley, grated parmesan cheese, and lemon juice, mixing well to ensure everything is evenly coated.
Adjust seasoning: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
Adjust cayenne pepper to control the spice level.
Using chicken thighs keeps the meat juicy and tender.
Fresh parsley adds a bright, fresh flavor to balance richness.
This dish can be paired well with a green salad or crusty bread.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta, creamy chicken pasta, fettuccine chicken recipe, butter garlic chicken pasta, smoked paprika chicken, easy chicken pasta dinner