Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta for Fast Weeknight Dinners
Juicy chicken, tender pasta, and a rich cowboy butter sauce made with garlic, lemon, Dijon, and herbs. A bold, buttery dinner ready in 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4–5 servings 1x
Ingredients
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1½ lbs chicken breasts or thighs, cut into pieces
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12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or fettuccine)
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6 tbsp unsalted butter
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4–5 garlic cloves, minced
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1 tbsp Dijon mustard
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Juice and zest of 1 lemon
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½ tsp red pepper flakes
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2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
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1 tbsp chives, chopped
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1 tsp paprika
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½ tsp onion powder
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Salt and pepper to taste
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Optional: ¼ cup grated Parmesan
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Optional: ½ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
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Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain, reserve ½ cup water.
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Season chicken with paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
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Sear in oil over medium-high heat, 4–5 mins per side. Remove.
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In same pan, melt butter. Add garlic and sauté 1–2 mins.
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Stir in Dijon, lemon juice/zest, red pepper flakes, herbs, and Parmesan if using.
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Return chicken and add pasta. Toss everything to coat.
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Adjust with pasta water if needed. Serve warm, garnished with herbs.
Notes
Use freshly minced garlic and real lemon for the best flavor. Omit chili flakes for a kid-friendly version.