Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta Made Cowboy-Style
A bold, buttery pasta dish featuring juicy seasoned chicken tossed in cowboy butter sauce with garlic, lemon, herbs, and a spicy kick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
1½ lbs boneless chicken breast or thighs
12 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rotini)
6 tbsp unsalted butter
4–5 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
½ tsp dried thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
½ tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp olive oil
Grated Parmesan (optional)
Reserved pasta water as needed
Instructions
- Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water. Drain.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Sear in olive oil until golden and cooked through. Set aside.
- Melt butter in the skillet. Add garlic, cook 1–2 min. Stir in mustard, lemon juice, zest, chili flakes, thyme, and parsley.
- Return chicken to skillet. Add pasta and toss to coat in sauce. Use pasta water to loosen if needed.
- Garnish with more parsley and Parmesan. Serve warm.
Notes
Use shrimp instead of chicken for variation. Add spinach or mushrooms to include veggies.