Creamy Garlic Chicken Buttered Noodles Recipe
Chicken Buttered Noodles is a comforting, creamy pasta dish featuring tender seared chicken breasts, garlic-infused butter sauce, and perfectly cooked egg noodles. Enhanced with thyme and a touch of cream, this easy skillet recipe offers a rich, flavorful meal perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 teaspoons fresh thyme)
Pasta
- 8 oz egg noodles (or preferred pasta)
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
Optional Garnishes
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Red pepper flakes
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Season and Sear the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt, black pepper, and thyme. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken in the skillet and sear for 5-6 minutes on each side until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and let it rest before slicing.
- Cook the Noodles: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the egg noodles and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the noodles, reserving some of the pasta cooking water for later use.
- Prepare the Butter Sauce: In the same skillet used for the chicken, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, then simmer the mixture until it slightly thickens, around 3-5 minutes.
- Toss Noodles and Chicken in Sauce: Add the cooked noodles to the skillet with the sauce. Stir to coat evenly, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and achieve desired consistency. Slice the rested chicken breasts and mix them into the noodles.
- Serve: Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired. Serve the buttered noodles hot, garnished with fresh parsley. Optionally, sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes for extra flavor and a little heat.
Notes
- Use fresh thyme if possible for a brighter herb flavor.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce thickness and help it cling to noodles.
- Leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken can be used to save time.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or milk, but sauce may be less rich.
- Parmesan and red pepper flakes add depth and a bit of spice, but are optional.
Keywords: Chicken Buttered Noodles, creamy chicken pasta, easy chicken noodles, garlic butter sauce, weeknight dinner
