Description
A comforting pasta dish infused with creamy cowboy-style goodness, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, cubed
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter (for searing)
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (or to taste)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or rotini)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: ¼ cup pasta water (to loosen sauce if needed)
- Extra parsley for garnish
- Lemon zest or juice for garnish
- Grated Parmesan for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain, reserving ¼ cup of pasta water if needed later.
- Season cubed chicken with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear chicken until golden and cooked through (about 6–8 mins). Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Melt butter.
- Add garlic and sauté for 1–2 mins until fragrant.
- Stir in Dijon, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, pepper, and parsley. Let simmer for 2–3 mins until fragrant and slightly thickened.
- Add heavy cream and Parmesan to the cowboy butter sauce. Stir to combine until smooth and creamy.
- Return cooked chicken and pasta to the skillet. Toss until fully coated.
- Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed for a looser sauce.
- Top with extra parsley, a squeeze of lemon, and an extra dusting of Parmesan.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Leftovers can be frozen for up to 2 months. Reheat gently with a splash of milk or pasta water.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing and simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg