Description
This flavorful Chicken and Buttered Noodles recipe combines tender, seasoned chicken breasts with al dente small pasta shells tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce enhanced with chicken bouillon and parmesan cheese. A quick and comforting dish perfect for a weeknight meal, garnished with fresh parsley and extra parmesan for added taste.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, pat dry and cubed
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Pasta
- 8 ounces small pasta shells
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder (for cooking pasta)
Garlic Butter Sauce
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) salted butter
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- ¼ cup (25 g) parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish (optional)
- Parsley, for garnish
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Mix Seasonings: In a medium bowl, combine onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika to create the seasoning mix.
- Season Chicken: Toss the cubed chicken breasts in the seasoning mixture ensuring all pieces are evenly coated.
- Cook Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken cubes and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until chicken is golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from pan and tent with foil to keep warm.
- Boil Pasta: Fill a large pot halfway with water, add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder, and bring to a boil.
- Cook Pasta: Add the small pasta shells and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the rest.
- Make Garlic Butter Sauce: In the same pot used to cook the pasta, melt the butter and stir in the chicken bouillon powder over medium heat.
- Add Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the melted butter mixture and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Combine Sauce and Pasta Water: Pour in ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and stir to combine well.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Return the drained noodles to the pot. Add parmesan cheese and toss everything together until the noodles are well coated, adding more pasta water little by little until the desired consistency is reached.
- Plate and Serve: Serve the buttered noodles topped with the cooked chicken. Garnish with fresh parsley and additional parmesan cheese if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency as needed.
- You can substitute small pasta shells with other small pasta shapes if preferred.
- Use salted butter as it adds flavor; reduce added salt accordingly.
- For extra flavor, garnish with fresh parsley and extra parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
