Irresistibly Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine in 30 Minutes Recipe
This Irresistibly Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a quick and flavorful dish that brings together tender chicken, creamy buttery sauce, and perfectly cooked linguine pasta. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a perfect weeknight meal that combines comforting textures with zesty lemon and aromatic garlic for a delicious, hearty dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Pasta
- 12 ounces linguine pasta
Cowboy Butter Sauce
- 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
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or reserved pasta water
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil the linguine according to the package directions in salted water. Remember to reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining, then set the pasta aside for later use.
- Cook Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce: Using the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes; sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Flavor Components: Stir in the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth (or reserved pasta water). Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan while gently simmering to develop flavor.
- Creamy Sauce Formation: Pour in the heavy cream and half of the chopped parsley. Stir gently and cook for an additional 2 minutes until the sauce lightly thickens.
- Combine All: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, add the cooked linguine, and sprinkle in the parmesan cheese. Toss everything together to coat evenly, adding reserved pasta water as needed to adjust the sauce’s consistency.
- Final Touches: Taste the dish and adjust salt and black pepper as needed. Garnish with the remaining parsley and extra parmesan cheese. Serve immediately to enjoy the delightful cowboy butter flavors.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water before draining to help loosen and adjust the sauce consistency later.
- Use chicken broth as an alternative to pasta water for added richness in the sauce.
- Red pepper flakes are optional but add a mild kick; adjust quantity to your spice preference.
- Fresh parsley is best for garnish and fresh flavor, but dried parsley can be substituted if needed.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a lower-fat cream option.
Keywords: chicken linguine, creamy chicken pasta, cowboy butter sauce, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe
