Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
A creamy and comforting pasta dish, Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine combines tender chicken and linguine in a rich buttery sauce, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 12 ounces linguine pasta
- 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
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or reserved pasta water Use reserved pasta water for extra flavor.
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Cooking the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the linguine. Cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
Cooking the Chicken
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Preparing the Cowboy Butter Sauce
- In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes if desired. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth (or reserved pasta water). Scrape browned bits from the pan.
Creating the Sauce
- Pour in the heavy cream and add half of the chopped parsley. Stir and cook for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Return the cooked chicken to the pan with drained linguine. Toss with parmesan cheese until evenly coated. Adjust the sauce consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
Serving
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with remaining parsley and extra parmesan before serving.
Send me this recipe!
Just enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox!
Notes
For best results, use fresh ingredients and keep the pasta al dente. Customize with veggies or different proteins as desired.