Description
Creamy, garlicky, and loaded with melty mozzarella, this Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties in Cheesy Cream is pure comfort food in a bowl. Juicy golden chicken pieces are tossed with bowtie pasta and folded into a velvety cream sauce kissed with garlic and butter. It’s an easy weeknight dinner that tastes like something from your favorite Italian bistro.
Ingredients
16 oz bowtie pasta (farfalle)
1.5 lbs chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
2. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook bowtie pasta until al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
3. In the same skillet, melt remaining butter. Sauté minced garlic until fragrant (about 1 minute), being careful not to brown it.
4. Pour in heavy cream, reduce heat to low, and whisk gently. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
5. Stir in mozzarella cheese gradually, whisking until the sauce is melted and smooth.
6. Add pasta and chicken back into the skillet. Toss to coat everything in the cheesy cream sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen if needed.
7. Finish with parsley and crushed red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly shredded mozzarella for smoother melting — pre-shredded varieties may result in a grainy sauce.
Don’t skip reserving pasta water — it helps adjust sauce consistency without diluting flavor.
For extra depth, add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan to finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 31g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 115mg