The Coziest Chicken with Buttered Noodles Recipe for Weeknights

Chicken with buttered noodles transcends ordinary dinner fare, offering a comforting embrace of simplicity and flavor.

Home cooks often seek meals that spark joy without demanding complex techniques or rare ingredients.

Soft, silky noodles coated in rich, velvety butter create a canvas for tender, perfectly seasoned chicken.

This classic combination represents true culinary comfort, bridging childhood memories with sophisticated taste profiles.

Families appreciate how quickly such a dish comes together, revamping basic ingredients into something magical.

Weeknight dinners demand practicality, and this recipe delivers both nutrition and satisfaction with minimal effort.

Each forkful promises a delightful balance of protein and carbohydrates that will leave you craving more.

Chicken with Buttered Noodles: What Makes It Comforting

• Savor Speedy Flavor Fusion: This recipe transforms simple chicken into a gourmet meal in just 20 minutes, delivering restaurant-quality taste with minimal cooking skills required.
• Enjoy Rich Creamy Comfort: The velvety mushroom sauce with heavy cream creates a luxurious coating that hugs the tender chicken, making each bite incredibly satisfying and indulgent.
• Master One-Pan Convenience: Using the same skillet for chicken, mushrooms, and sauce minimizes cleanup while building deep, layered flavors through strategic cooking techniques like deglazing and simmering.

Chicken with Buttered Noodles Ingredient Rundown

• Chicken Breasts: Tender and lean protein that serves as the main star of the dish, preferably fresh and boneless.

• Olive Oil, Butter: Essential for sautéing chicken and creating a rich, golden-brown surface, with butter adding depth of flavor.

• Garlic, Thyme, Oregano: Provide complex, fragrant layers of flavor that enhance the overall taste of the chicken and sauce.
• Fresh Parsley: Bright, fresh garnish that adds color and a light herbal note to the finished dish.

• Mushrooms: Earthy and umami-rich ingredient that adds depth and texture to the sauce.

• Chicken Broth: Foundational liquid that helps deglaze the pan and create a flavorful base for the sauce.
• Heavy Cream: Gives the sauce a luxurious, silky texture and rich, smooth consistency.

• Noodles: Soft, buttered base that complements the chicken and absorbs the delicious sauce.

• Parmesan Cheese: Sharp, salty cheese that adds a final savory touch and depth to the dish.

• Salt, Pepper: Basic seasonings that enhance and balance the overall flavor profile of the chicken.

How to Cook Chicken with Buttered Noodles Perfectly

Step 1: Prepare and Season the Chicken

Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over chicken breasts to enhance their natural flavor.

Step 2: Sear the Chicken

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.

Step 3: Sauté Mushrooms

• Turn golden brown
• Release their juices
• Develop a rich, deep flavor (about 5 minutes)

Step 4: Build Aromatic Flavor

• Garlic
• Thyme
• Oregano

Cook for 1-2 minutes until the herbs become fragrant and release their essential oils.

Step 5: Create the Sauce Base

Pour chicken broth into the skillet to deglaze, scraping up all the delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer and reduce liquid by half (about 5 minutes).

Step 6: Finish the Creamy Sauce

Stir in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly (3-4 minutes).

Step 7: Reunite Chicken with Sauce

Return chicken to the skillet, warming it through in the luscious sauce.

Step 8: Plate and Garnish

• Fresh chopped parsley
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Tips to Nail Chicken with Buttered Noodles

• Sear for Golden Perfection: Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure a crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in maximum flavor.
• Master Mushroom Technique: Cook mushrooms at medium-high heat without overcrowding the pan to achieve beautiful caramelization and rich, concentrated taste.
• Create Silky Sauce: Slowly reduce chicken broth and cream to develop a luxurious, velvety sauce that clings perfectly to the chicken and noodles.
• Temperature Control Matters: Use a meat thermometer to check chicken reaches 165°F internally, guaranteeing juicy and safe-to-eat meat every time.
• Herb Enhancement Trick: Crush dried herbs between your fingers before adding to release their essential oils and amplify the aromatic flavor profile.

Storing and Reheating Chicken with Buttered Noodles

• Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Store chicken and sauce separately from noodles to prevent soggy texture. Consume refrigerated leftovers within 3-4 days for best quality and safety.
• Reheat chicken gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth to maintain moisture. Cover the skillet to prevent drying out and heat until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Warm noodles separately in the microwave with a small amount of butter to refresh their texture.
• Freeze individual portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating to preserve flavor and prevent bacterial growth.

Great Pairings for Chicken with Buttered Noodles

• Complement Creamy Flavors: Pair this rich, buttery chicken dish with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to cut through the heavy cream sauce and refresh the palate.
• Balance Herb Notes: Serve with a light arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette to contrast the dish's creamy texture and complement the thyme and oregano herbs.
• Enhance Comfort Meal: Add roasted asparagus or honey-glazed carrots as a side to bring additional vegetable brightness and subtle sweetness that matches the chicken's savory profile.
• Round Out the Plate: Enjoy a chilled glass of sparkling water with lemon or a light wheat beer to cleanse the palate between bites of the creamy, herb-infused chicken and buttered noodles.

Chicken with Buttered Noodles Flavor Variations

• Italian Herb Chicken Noodles: Swap dried herbs for fresh basil, rosemary, and Italian seasoning blend. Add sun-dried tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil for Mediterranean flair.
• Spicy Cajun Chicken Version: Coat chicken with Cajun seasoning before cooking. Replace thyme with cayenne pepper and add sliced bell peppers for extra heat and color.
• Mushroom Cream Chicken Light: Use Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream for lower-fat sauce. Include roasted zucchini and spinach for added nutrition and freshness.
• Herb-Crusted Parmesan Chicken: Press grated Parmesan and breadcrumbs onto chicken before searing. Incorporate chopped chives and lemon zest into the sauce for bright, tangy notes.

Chicken With Buttered Noodles Recipe

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4.8 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Hearty Chicken with Buttered Noodles delights with classic comfort from German kitchens, blending tender chicken and silky noodles. Creamy butter sauce and simple ingredients create a satisfying meal that welcomes you to savor each comforting bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Protein:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (pounded to even thickness)

Herbs and Seasonings:

• Salt (to taste)
• Pepper (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Cooking Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
• 1 tablespoon (15 grams) unsalted butter
• 8 ounces (227 grams) mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
• 12 ounces (340 grams) noodles, cooked and buttered
• Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
• Grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish

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Instructions

1. Generously coat chicken breasts with salt and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring even seasoning on both sides.
2. Warm olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
3. Carefully place seasoned chicken breasts into the hot skillet, allowing each side to develop a golden-brown crust, approximately 4-5 minutes per side, ensuring internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
4. Transfer perfectly cooked chicken to a clean plate and let rest while preparing the sauce.
5. Reduce skillet heat to medium and melt unsalted butter, creating a smooth, bubbling base.
6. Add sliced mushrooms to the butter, sautéing until they caramelize and release their natural moisture, approximately 5-6 minutes.
7. Introduce minced garlic, fresh thyme, and dried oregano, stirring continuously to prevent burning and allow herbs to bloom, releasing their aromatic oils, about 1-2 minutes.
8. Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up flavorful browned bits from the pan’s surface.
9. Allow liquid to simmer and reduce by half, concentrating the sauce’s flavors, roughly 4-5 minutes.
10. Gently pour heavy cream into the skillet, creating a luxurious, velvety sauce, and simmer until slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes.
11. Return chicken breasts to the skillet, nestling them into the creamy mushroom sauce to reheat and absorb additional flavors.
12. Plate chicken over freshly buttered egg noodles, generously garnishing with chopped fresh parsley and finely grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

• Quickly sear chicken at high heat to lock in juices and create a beautiful golden-brown exterior that adds incredible flavor depth.
• Use fresh herbs like thyme and oregano for an aromatic boost that elevates the entire dish’s taste profile.
• Deglazing the pan with chicken broth captures all the delicious browned bits, transforming them into a rich, deeply flavored sauce.
• Heavy cream creates a luxurious, silky sauce that perfectly coats the chicken and complements the buttered noodles.
• Letting the sauce simmer and reduce concentrates the flavors, making each bite more intense and delicious.
• Finishing the dish with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese adds a bright, fresh element and provides a delightful textural contrast.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 625 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 19 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 42 g
• Cholesterol: 180 mg