Creamy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties

Creamy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties is a comforting, easy-to-make pasta dish that’s perfect for a cozy night in. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping the pasta from sticking is to toss it in the pan with the chicken and garlic butter immediately after cooking. This dish is a family favorite, and it’s better than takeout any day. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Try this with our Honey BBQ Chicken and Or pair it with our Dump and Bake Chicken Parmesan.

What You'll Need for Creamy 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.

• 1 lb bowtie pasta
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 4 tbsp butter
• Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped
• Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese

How to Make Creamy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties

1. Cook Pasta: Cook bowtie pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. Cook Chicken: Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook in a skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
3. Make Garlic Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Add red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for another minute.
4. Combine Ingredients: Add cooked pasta and reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss to combine. Add shredded mozzarella cheese and stir until melted and creamy. Add cooked chicken back to the skillet and toss to combine.
5. Serve: Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Storing & Reheating Creamy 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 cook the pasta and chicken ahead of time. Combine and reheat when ready to serve.

Freezing Creamy 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 (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: To prevent the pasta from sticking, toss it in the pan with the chicken and garlic butter immediately after cooking.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with cooked shrimp or diced chicken sausage for a different twist.
• Make-ahead: Cook the pasta and chicken ahead of time. Combine and reheat when ready to serve.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, add more reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.

Creamy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties

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Prep

10 min

🍳

Cook

20 min

⏳

Total

30 min

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free (use gluten-free pasta)

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb bowtie pasta
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings

• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 4 tbsp butter

Optional Toppings

• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Cook Pasta: Cook bowtie pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. Cook Chicken: Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook in a skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
3. Make Garlic Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Add red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for another minute.
4. Combine Ingredients: Add cooked pasta and reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss to combine. Add shredded mozzarella cheese and stir until melted and creamy. Add cooked chicken back to the skillet and toss to combine.
5. Serve: Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

• Chef tip: To prevent the pasta from sticking, toss it in the pan with the chicken and garlic butter immediately after cooking.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with cooked shrimp or diced chicken sausage for a different twist.
• Make-ahead: Cook the pasta and chicken ahead of time. Combine and reheat when ready to serve.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, add more reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.

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 (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: You can cook the pasta and chicken ahead of time. Combine and reheat when ready to serve.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 650
• Protein: 40g
• Fat: 25g
• Carbs: 70g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Cholesterol: 120mg
• Sat. Fat: 14g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Creamy Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Creamy 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!