Cowboy Chicken Pasta – Creamy, Spicy Cowboy Butter Sauce
Cowboy butter chicken pasta is a bold and buttery dish made with seared chicken, pasta, garlic, Dijon mustard, and lemon — all tossed in a rich, spiced cowboy butter sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 12 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rotini)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan (optional)
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain.
- Slice and season chicken. Sear in oil over medium-high heat until golden and cooked. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter. Add garlic, mustard, lemon juice/zest, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer 2 minutes.
- Return chicken to pan. Add pasta, parsley, and Parmesan. Toss to combine.
- Add pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce. Serve hot.
Notes
- Add cream for a richer sauce.
- Stir in spinach or mushrooms for extra texture.
- Great for meal prep and easy weeknight dinners.