Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Creamy pasta with tender chicken, bell peppers, and zesty cowboy butter sauce finished with herbs and Parmesan.

# What you'll need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Pasta

02 - 12 oz penne or rigatoni

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
04 - 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 cups baby spinach

→ Cowboy Butter Sauce

08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter
09 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
12 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce
13 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
15 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
16 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
17 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
18 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Creamy Finish

19 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
20 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

# Directions:

01 - Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until golden and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add red and yellow bell peppers, and red onion. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining butter, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, parsley, and chives. Stir until melted and aromatic.
05 - Pour in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Stir until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
06 - Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, add spinach, and cook until wilted, about 1 minute.
07 - Add the drained pasta, tossing to coat in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and extra lemon juice if desired. Serve hot, garnished with extra herbs and Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one skillet, so you spend more time eating and less time scrubbing pots
  • The cowboy butter sauce hits every single flavor note: creamy, tangy, savory, with just enough heat to keep it interesting
02 -
  • If your sauce looks too thick, that reserved pasta water will bring it back to life without thinning out the flavor
  • The sauce continues to thicken as it sits off the heat, so err on the side of slightly looser when you're finishing it up
03 -
  • Pat your chicken completely dry before searing, otherwise it'll steam instead of getting that gorgeous golden crust
  • Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly into the sauce without breaking

Return