Description
This easy comfort food dinner features juicy pan-seared chicken served over buttery, glossy noodles. It’s quick, budget-friendly, and perfect for busy weeknights or cozy family meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or unsalted butter (for cooking)
- 8 ounces egg noodles or wide pasta
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
- 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
- Lemon wedges (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
- Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp should be 165°F). If chicken is thick, reduce heat and cover for the last couple minutes.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice thinly or chop into bite-sized pieces.
- While chicken cooks, bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add egg noodles and cook according to package instructions (usually 7-8 minutes for egg noodles). Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain noodles.
- Return drained noodles to the pot. Add butter, reserved pasta water, and minced garlic (if using). Toss until butter melts and noodles are glossy. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add sliced chicken to noodles and toss gently. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
- Plate noodles and chicken. Top with grated Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon, if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta or rice noodles. For dairy-free, substitute vegan butter and skip Parmesan. Resting chicken keeps it juicy; reserve pasta water for glossy noodles. Add veggies or herbs for seasonal variations. Leftovers reheat well with a splash of water and extra butter.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (about 1 cup noodles and 1/2 chicken breast)
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 420
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 26
Keywords: chicken, buttered noodles, comfort food, easy dinner, weeknight meal, pasta, family recipe, quick chicken recipe