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Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta Recipe

4.8 from 55 reviews

Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta is a flavorful and hearty dish featuring tender, sautéed chicken breast tossed with pasta in a rich, buttery sauce infused with garlic, honey, and soy sauce. This easy skillet recipe combines savory and sweet elements to create a satisfying meal perfect for any weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Sauce

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs), sliced into bite-sized pieces
  • 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Pasta

  • 12 oz fettuccine or penne pasta

Instructions

  1. Prepare Ingredients: Finely mince the garlic cloves and slice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces to ensure quick and even cooking.
  2. Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water for the sauce.
  3. Sauté Chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
  4. Make Sauce: Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet. In the same skillet, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in soy sauce and honey to combine the flavors.
  5. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, add the drained pasta, and toss everything together. Pour in reserved pasta water gradually to loosen the sauce and create a creamy consistency.
  6. Serve: Serve the pasta hot, optionally garnished with chopped fresh parsley for color and freshness.

Notes

  • Use low-sodium soy sauce to control the saltiness of the dish.
  • Adjust the amount of honey to your taste preference for sweetness.
  • You can substitute fettuccine or penne with any pasta shape you prefer.
  • Reserve pasta water is essential to help the sauce adhere better to the pasta and chicken.
  • For a dairy-free option, substitute butter with olive oil and ensure soy sauce is gluten-free.

Keywords: chicken pasta, cowboy butter chicken, garlic butter chicken, easy chicken pasta recipe, honey soy chicken pasta