Description
Comforting chicken with buttered noodles brings classic American home cooking to your dinner table. Simple ingredients and quick preparation make this hearty meal perfect for family gatherings and weeknight dinners you’ll enjoy together.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) chicken breasts or thighs, boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 8 oz (226 g) egg noodles
- 3 tbsps unsalted butter, divided
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning (or mix of dried basil and parsley)
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Noodle Preparation: Boil salted water and cook egg noodles until perfectly al dente. Drain noodles, reserving a small amount of cooking liquid, and set aside.
- Chicken Searing: Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper, ensuring complete coverage. Cook chicken thoroughly, rotating periodically to achieve a golden-brown exterior and complete internal doneness.
- Butter Sauce Creation: Remove chicken from skillet and set aside. In the same pan, melt butter until it becomes frothy. Add minced garlic and Italian seasoning, stirring rapidly to prevent scorching and release aromatic flavors.
- Flavor Fusion: Introduce drained noodles to the herb-infused butter sauce, gently tossing to coat completely. If the mixture appears dry, incorporate reserved cooking liquid to create a smooth, silky texture.
- Final Assembly: Reintegrate cooked chicken into the noodle mixture, allowing flavors to meld. Optional: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese and garnish with chopped parsley. Serve immediately while the dish remains piping hot and flavor-packed.
Notes
- Select Quality Chicken: Choose fresh, boneless chicken breasts or thighs with even thickness to ensure uniform cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
- Control Butter Sauce Consistency: Add reserved pasta water gradually to create a smooth, silky sauce without making noodles too wet or greasy – start with small splashes and mix thoroughly.
- Prevent Overcooking Noodles: Watch egg noodles closely during boiling, testing texture every minute to achieve that perfect al dente texture without becoming mushy or sticky.
- Maximize Flavor Infusion: Allow chicken to rest briefly after cooking to retain juices, and let noodles sit in butter sauce for 1-2 minutes before serving to help herbs and seasonings fully develop their aromatic profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg