Description
This Chicken and Buttered Noodles recipe combines tender, flavorful pan-seared chicken breasts with rich, garlicky buttered pasta shells. Enhanced with chicken bouillon and Parmesan cheese, this comforting dish is simple to prepare, perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal, and serves four.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed and patted dry
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Noodles
- 8 ounces small pasta shells
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder
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. Toss the cubed chicken breasts in this seasoning mix ensuring all pieces are evenly coated.
- Cook chicken. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the seasoned chicken pieces. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove chicken from the skillet and tent with foil to keep warm.
- Cook noodles. Fill a large pot halfway with water, add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder, then bring to a boil. Add the small pasta shells and cook according to package directions until al dente.
- Reserve pasta water. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain the noodles and set them aside.
- Prepare garlic butter sauce. Return the large pot used for the noodles to stove over medium heat. Melt the salted butter and stir in 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute to infuse the flavors.
- Combine noodles with sauce. Pour in ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and stir to mix. Add the cooked noodles and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese to the pot; toss gently to combine everything well. Add more pasta water gradually if needed to reach your preferred sauce consistency.
- Serve. Plate the buttered noodles, top with the cooked chicken pieces, and garnish with freshly chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F for safety.
- Use freshly minced garlic for best flavor in the butter sauce.
- Reserving pasta water is key to achieving the perfect sauce consistency.
- Parmesan cheese adds savory depth but can be omitted or replaced with a substitute if desired.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper at the end to balance flavor.
- For a lower sodium version, reduce or omit chicken bouillon powder.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
