Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties
Creamy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties are the ultimate comfort food. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the creamy, golden chicken in a garlic butter sauce that’s better than takeout. The melted mozzarella makes it irresistible. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Slow cooker cranberry chicken and Simple Thai Mango Salad.
Why This Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties Is Pure Comfort
- Creamy garlic butter sauce
- Golden, crispy chicken
- Melted mozzarella
- Better than takeout
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
- Garlic
- Butter
- Salt
- Pepper
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Grated Parmesan
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: Thinly slice for even cooking.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter for best results.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect searing. → See on Amazon
- Box Grater — Quickly grate cheese for even melting. → See on Amazon
How to Make Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties
- Cook Chicken: Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook in a hot skillet until golden and crispy. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Cook Pasta: Cook bowtie pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Make Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic. Add heavy cream, simmer until thickened. Stir in mozzarella until melted. Add cooked chicken and pasta, toss to combine.
- Serve: Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the chicken. It will become dry. Remove it from the skillet when it's still slightly pink in the middle. The residual heat will cook it the rest of the way.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, deglaze the skillet with white wine or chicken broth after removing the chicken. Add it to the sauce before adding the chicken back in.
- Pro tip: To make this dish even creamier, stir in a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with a tablespoon of water before adding the chicken and pasta back to the skillet.
- Pro tip: For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes to the garlic butter sauce.
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: This dish can be made ahead and reheated. The pasta may absorb some of the sauce, so you might want to add a little more cream or broth when reheating.
Freezing Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties
Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 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 extra flavor, use chicken thighs instead of breasts. They have more flavor and stay moist even when overcooked.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the heavy cream with half and half or milk for a lighter version. The sauce won't be as creamy, but it will still be delicious.
- Make-ahead: You can cook the chicken and pasta ahead of time and store them separately in the fridge. When ready to serve, make the sauce and combine everything.
- Scaling: This recipe serves 4. To serve more, simply double or triple the ingredients.
- 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 little more cream or broth.
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Cozy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Bowtie pasta
- Mozzarella cheese
- Garlic
- Butter
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley
- Grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook in a hot skillet until golden and crispy. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Cook Pasta: Cook bowtie pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Make Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic. Add heavy cream, simmer until thickened. Stir in mozzarella until melted. Add cooked chicken and pasta, toss to combine.
- Serve: Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For extra flavor, use chicken thighs instead of breasts. They have more flavor and stay moist even when overcooked.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the heavy cream with half and half or milk for a lighter version. The sauce won't be as creamy, but it will still be delicious.
- Make-ahead: You can cook the chicken and pasta ahead of time and store them separately in the fridge. When ready to serve, make the sauce and combine everything.
- Scaling: This recipe serves 4. To serve more, simply double or triple the ingredients.
- 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 little more cream or broth.
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 in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated. The pasta may absorb some of the sauce, so you might want to add a little more cream or broth when reheating.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 650
- Protein: 45g
- Fat: 35g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- 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 make the chicken and pasta ahead of time. Store them separately in the fridge. When ready to serve, make the sauce and combine everything.
The chicken was probably overcooked. Remove it from the skillet when it's still slightly pink in the middle. The residual heat will cook it the rest of the way.
Yes, you can cook the chicken in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through. Then proceed with the recipe as written.
You can substitute the heavy cream with half and half or milk for a lighter version. The sauce won't be as creamy, but it will still be delicious.
Yes, you can freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
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!
