Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties
Craving a comforting, cheesy pasta dish? Look no further than these Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the creamy, garlicky sauce that coats the bowties and tender chicken pieces. The trick I discovered is to cook the pasta and chicken together, saving time and creating a rich, flavorful sauce. The result is a cozy, better-than-takeout dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Fluffy Red Velvet Pancakes Recipe with Easy Cream Cheese Glaze and Simple Thai Mango Salad: Refreshingly Easy Recipe!.
Why This Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties Is Pure Comfort
- Perfectly tender chicken and pasta in every bite
- Creamy, garlicky sauce that's better than takeout
- Easy, one-pan cooking for less cleanup
- Ready in just 30 minutes for a quick weeknight dinner
What You'll Need for Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Bowtie pasta
- Mozzarella cheese
- Heavy cream
- Butter
- Minced garlic
- Dried parsley
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Heavy cream: You can substitute half-and-half or milk for a lighter version.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Saves time by cooking pasta and chicken together → See on Amazon
- High-quality non-stick skillet — Prevents chicken and pasta from sticking → See on Amazon
How to Make Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties
- Step 1: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, cook bowtie pasta according to package instructions, using chicken broth instead of water. Once pasta is al dente, remove from heat and set aside.
- Step 3: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in heavy cream, cooked chicken, cooked pasta, and mozzarella cheese. Cook until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy. Season with dried parsley, salt, and red pepper flakes. Serve hot and enjoy!
Cook's Tips for Perfect Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the chicken or it will become tough. Remove it from the skillet as soon as it's cooked through.
- Pro tip: For an extra kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Pro tip: To make this dish ahead, prepare the chicken and pasta separately, then combine and cook the sauce just before serving.
Storing & Reheating Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the chicken and pasta up to 2 days ahead. Store separately in the fridge until ready to combine and cook the sauce.
Freezing Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties
Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For an even creamier sauce, stir in a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with cold water before adding the heavy cream.
- Best substitution: Substitute the chicken breasts for cooked, shredded chicken to save time.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and pasta separately, then combine and cook the sauce just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thin, simmer it for a few more minutes to reduce and thicken. If it's too thick, add a splash of milk or chicken broth to thin it out.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality non-stick skillet — Prevents chicken and pasta from sticking, ensuring a perfect, restaurant-quality dish every time. → Check price on Amazon
Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Bowtie pasta
- Mozzarella cheese
- Heavy cream
- Butter
Seasonings
- Minced garlic
- Dried parsley
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, cook bowtie pasta according to package instructions, using chicken broth instead of water. Once pasta is al dente, remove from heat and set aside.
- Step 3: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in heavy cream, cooked chicken, cooked pasta, and mozzarella cheese. Cook until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy. Season with dried parsley, salt, and red pepper flakes. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Chef tip: For an even creamier sauce, stir in a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with cold water before adding the heavy cream.
- Best substitution: Substitute the chicken breasts for cooked, shredded chicken to save time.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and pasta separately, then combine and cook the sauce just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thin, simmer it for a few more minutes to reduce and thicken. If it's too thick, add a splash of milk or chicken broth to thin it out.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the chicken and pasta up to 2 days ahead. Store separately in the fridge until ready to combine and cook the sauce.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 650
- Protein: 40g
- Fat: 35g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 150mg
- Sat. Fat: 20g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the chicken and pasta separately up to 2 days ahead. Combine and cook the sauce just before serving.
Overcooking the chicken or pasta can cause the dish to become dry. Be sure to remove the chicken from the skillet as soon as it's cooked through and cook the pasta until it's al dente.
No, this recipe requires cooking the chicken and pasta in a skillet on the stove. However, you can use an air fryer to cook the chicken breasts separately before adding them to the skillet.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through if reheating in the microwave.
Yes, this homemade version is just as creamy and flavorful as takeout, but without the added sodium and preservatives. Plus, it's ready in just 30 minutes!
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
