Description
This Irresistibly Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a creamy, flavorful pasta dish that combines tender chicken breasts with a luscious butter and garlic sauce, brightened with lemon and fresh parsley. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect quick weeknight dinner that feels indulgent yet straightforward to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Pasta
- 12 ounces linguine pasta
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (divided)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or reserved pasta water
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil the linguine according to the package directions in salted water. Be sure to reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining. Set the cooked pasta aside.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter. Add minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes (if using). Sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Flavor Components: Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth or reserved pasta water. Scrape up any browned bits from the skillet bottom and gently simmer to combine flavors.
- Creamy Sauce Formation: Pour in the heavy cream along with half of the chopped parsley. Stir gently and cook for about 2 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Combine All: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the linguine and grated parmesan cheese. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are well coated in the sauce. Adjust sauce consistency with reserved pasta water as needed.
- Final Touches: Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with remaining parsley and extra parmesan cheese. Serve immediately for best flavor.
Notes
- Reserving pasta water helps adjust sauce consistency and enhances creaminess.
- Red pepper flakes are optional and can be omitted for milder flavor.
- Use chicken broth if you prefer more savory depth over pasta water.
- Leftover sauce can be stored separately and gently reheated with a splash of cream to keep creamy texture.
- For a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half, but sauce will be less rich.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing and Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 470 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken linguine, creamy chicken pasta, quick chicken pasta, easy dinner recipe, garlic butter chicken linguine
