Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:

• 8 oz pasta (linguine, spaghetti, or your choice)
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
• Grated Parmesan cheese (for serving, optional)

Instructions:

1. Cook Pasta:

   • Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water.

2. Sauté Chicken:

   • In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) to the skillet. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
   • Add the chicken pieces to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the center. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.

3. Make Garlic Butter Sauce:

   • In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, pour in the white wine or chicken broth. Allow the liquid to reduce by half, stirring occasionally.
   • Return the cooked chicken to the skillet.

4. Combine and Season:

   • Toss the cooked pasta with the garlic butter sauce and chicken until well coated. If the mixture seems too dry, add some of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
   • Squeeze the lemon juice over the pasta and chicken. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Toss everything together until evenly combined.

5. Serve:

   • Transfer the garlic butter chicken pasta to a serving platter or individual plates.
   • Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
   • Serve hot and enjoy your delicious and budget-friendly meal!

This Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta is flavorful and satisfying, but shrimp could be used instead of chicken.