Better Than Takeout Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties in Cheesy Cream
Make these Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties in Cheesy Cream for an easy, better-than-takeout dinner. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the creamy, cheesy sauce. The crispy chicken and tender bowties make this dish irresistible. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta and Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy.
Why This Better Than Takeout Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties in Cheesy Cream Is Pure Comfort
- Creamy, cheesy sauce that's never watery
- Crispy chicken that stays crispy even after cooking
- Easy to make and better than takeout
- Perfect for meal prepping and leftovers
What You'll Need for Better Than Takeout Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties in Cheesy Cream
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 oz bowtie pasta
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 4 cloves garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Red pepper flakes
- Italian seasoning
- Olive oil
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: You can also use chicken thighs or a mix of both.
- Heavy cream: For a lighter version, use half and half or milk, but the sauce will be thinner.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect searing and cooking → See on Amazon
- Box Grater — Effortlessly grate cheese and vegetables for your recipes → See on Amazon
How to Make Better Than Takeout Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties in Cheesy Cream
- Cook Pasta: Cook bowtie pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Chicken: Slice chicken breasts into strips, season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make Sauce: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Add heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir in mozzarella cheese until melted and smooth. Add cooked pasta and chicken back to the skillet. Toss to combine and coat in sauce.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Better Than Takeout Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties in Cheesy Cream
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the chicken. It will become dry and tough. To fix, cook chicken until just cooked through and let it rest before slicing.
- Tip: For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and add it to the skillet before adding the chicken back in.
- Tip: To make this dish spicy, add diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes to the skillet with the garlic.
Storing & Reheating Better Than Takeout Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties in Cheesy Cream
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 make the chicken and sauce ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve. The pasta is best cooked fresh.
Freezing Better Than Takeout Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties in Cheesy Cream
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 an extra layer of flavor, add a splash of white wine to the skillet with the garlic.
- Best substitution: If you don't have heavy cream, you can use a mix of milk and flour to make a roux and thicken the sauce.
- Make-ahead: You can cook the pasta and chicken ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve. The sauce is best made fresh.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, add a little milk or chicken broth to thin it out. If it's too thin, let it simmer until it thickens.
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Better Than Takeout Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties in Cheesy Cream
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 oz bowtie pasta
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 4 cloves garlic
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Red pepper flakes
- Italian seasoning
- Olive oil
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook bowtie pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Chicken: Slice chicken breasts into strips, season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make Sauce: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Add heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir in mozzarella cheese until melted and smooth. Add cooked pasta and chicken back to the skillet. Toss to combine and coat in sauce.
Notes
- Chef tip: For an extra layer of flavor, add a splash of white wine to the skillet with the garlic.
- Best substitution: If you don't have heavy cream, you can use a mix of milk and flour to make a roux and thicken the sauce.
- Make-ahead: You can cook the pasta and chicken ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve. The sauce is best made fresh.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, add a little milk or chicken broth to thin it out. If it's too thin, let it simmer until it thickens.
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: You can make the chicken and sauce ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve. The pasta is best cooked fresh.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 650
- Protein: 40g
- Fat: 35g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 150mg
- Sat. Fat: 20g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Better Than Takeout Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties in Cheesy Cream FAQs
Overcooking is the most common reason for dry chicken. To fix, cook chicken until just cooked through and let it rest before slicing.
Yes, you can cook the pasta and chicken ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve. The sauce is best made fresh.
Using milk instead of heavy cream can make the sauce watery. To fix, use heavy cream or thicken the sauce with a roux.
Yes, you can add your favorite vegetables to this dish. Broccoli, spinach, or bell peppers would all work well.
This dish is not gluten-free as it contains pasta. To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta or rice.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Better Than Takeout Mozzarella Garlic Butter Chicken Bowties in Cheesy Cream 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!
