Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine Recipe
Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a creamy, flavorful pasta dish featuring tender, seasoned chicken breasts cooked in a rich buttery garlic sauce with smoked paprika and a hint of heat from red pepper flakes. Tossed with linguine and Parmesan, this hearty meal is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz linguine
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the linguine and set it aside.
- Season and cook the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry and season evenly on both sides with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the chicken breasts. Cook for 5-6 minutes on each side or until the chicken is fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet, let rest for a few minutes, then slice it thinly.
- Prepare the sauce base: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add the butter. Once melted, sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and chicken broth and allow the mixture to simmer for 2-3 minutes, reducing slightly.
- Finish the sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and stir consistently until the sauce thickens slightly. Add grated Parmesan cheese and continue mixing until smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, adjust the consistency by gradually adding some of the reserved pasta water.
- Combine pasta and chicken: Return the sliced chicken to the skillet and add the drained linguine. Toss everything together to ensure the pasta and chicken are well coated with the creamy sauce. Heat through for an additional minute to meld the flavors.
- Serve: Plate the Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine immediately and garnish with chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness.
Notes
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level for milder or hotter heat.
- Reserve pasta water is useful to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor and smooth melting.
- Allow chicken to rest after cooking to keep it juicy before slicing.
- Serve immediately for the best texture of the linguine and sauce.
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken linguine, creamy chicken pasta, smoked paprika chicken linguine, easy chicken pasta dinner, garlic butter sauce pasta
Find it online: https://dishedbydana.com/cowboy-butter-chicken-linguine-recipe/
