Cowboy butter chicken pasta brings together seared chicken and soft fettuccine in a creamy sauce composed of garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon, smoked paprika and a small amount of cayenne. The butter is cooked in the same pan as the chicken, enabling the sauce to absorb all the browned flavours. The recipe takes around 30 minutes and requires one pot of pasta and one skillet.
What is cowboy butter chicken pasta?
Cowboy butter is a butter sauce that has been seasoned using garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon, fresh herbs, paprika and a small amount of cayenne and is usually served with steak or seafood. In the case of this pasta dish, the same flavours are combined to form a creamy sauce which is then mixed with pan-seared chicken and pasta; the result is a rich and savoury flavour with a bright note from the lemon and a slight heat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
•Ready in about 30 minutes
•Creamy, garlicky sauce with lemon to balance the richness
•Mild heat that you can adjust easily
•One skillet for the chicken and sauce
•Uses pantry staples and everyday ingredients
•Easy to change with shrimp, vegetables or different pasta
Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta Recipe (Creamy, Garlicky & Ready in 30 Minutes)
Make cowboy butter chicken pasta with seared chicken, fettuccine and a creamy garlic-lemon-Dijon butter sauce with a little cayenne heat. Easy weeknight dinner in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Method
Step-by-Step Instructions
First, boil the pasta
- In water that has been generously salted until it reaches an al dente consistency, then remove 1 cup of the water from the pot before draining it.
Put the salt
- Pepper, smoked paprika and garlic powder on the chicken. Mix the chicken pieces with the salt, pepper, smoked paprika and garlic powder.
3 Place the chicken
- In the pan and heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken in a single layer for 5 to 6 minutes, turning it once or twice, until it has turned golden and is fully cooked to 165°F (74°C), then transfer it to a plate.
Put the butter
- Into the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Then add the butter to the same skillet and stir in the garlic, cooking it for 30 to 45 seconds until it is fragrant.
Make the sauce
- By whisking in the Dijon, Worcestershire, smoked paprika and cayenne, then pouring in the cream and simmering gently for 2 to 3 minutes until it has thickened slightly.
Put in
- The cheese and lemon, then take the pan off the heat and stir in the Parmesan, the lemon zest and the lemon juice until the mixture is smooth.
Combine
- The pasta and chicken in the skillet and stir them together, then add the reserved pasta water a little bit at a time until the sauce has coated the noodles.
That’s all.
- Add the parsley and the chives, season it with salt and pepper, and then serve immediately.
Tips for the Best Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta
- Cut the chicken into even pieces so that it cooks at the same rate and remains juicy.
- •Don’t put too much food in the pan. If necessary, prepare the cooking in two batches so that the chicken has a chance to brown rather than steam.
- •Take the lemon off the heat, as adding acid to a cream sauce that is boiling can cause it to curdle.
- Retain the water from the pasta since the starch in it helps the sauce to stick to the pasta and will thin out the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- Grate the Parmesan yourself since pre-grated cheese can result in a grainy sauce.
- •Taste the cayenne and begin with a quarter teaspoon, then add some more afterwards.
- •Use a thermometer to check the chicken; it must reach 165°F (74°C).
What to Serve with Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta
- It should be served with a green salad tossed with lemon and olive oil, along with garlic bread, roasted broccoli or green beans; a simple tomato salad also helps to counteract the richness of the sauce.
Easy Variations
- For shrimp, use 1½ pounds of shrimp that has been peeled and cook it for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
- For chicken thighs, use boneless and skinless ones and cook them for a minute or two longer.
- •If you want to include vegetables, add broccoli florets, spinach or cherry tomatoes to the sauce.
- Make it spicier by using more cayenne or by adding a teaspoon of hot sauce.
- For the lighter version, substitute the cream with half-and-half since this will produce a thinner sauce.
- If it’s gluten-free, then use gluten-free pasta and check the label on the Worcestershire sauce.
Storage and Reheating
- You can keep leftover food in a sealed container in the refrigerator for a maximum of three days. To reheat it, place it in a skillet and heat it gently over low heat, adding a little milk or water and stirring continuously until the sauce has become loose. Do not freeze it since cream-based sauces usually separate when they are thawed.
Frequently Asked Questions
So what is cowboy butter?
- It is a kind of seasoned butter made using garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon, herbs, paprika and a small amount of cayenne. It is usually served with steak and seafood.
Is the cowboy butter chicken pasta spicy?
- No, it isn’t spicy. The cayenne provides a mild heat, and you can increase or decrease the amount according to your preference.
Which pasta is the best?
- Fettuccine goes well with a creamy sauce and so do penne, rigatoni or linguine.
- Yes, you can prepare the sauce without using cream; in that case, add some extra pasta water and a bit more butter, but the sauce will be less creamy.
- Yes, you can prepare the butter in advance; simply combine the garlic, mustard, lemon, herbs and spices with the softened butter and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week
Notes
Cowboy butter chicken pasta is a fast meal featuring a creamy garlic and lemon sauce with a touch of spice. Sear the chicken, then make up the sauce in the same pan and finish it off with the lemon without heating the pan. Have you tried it? Please leave a comment and let us know how you’ve altered it
