Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
A fantastic dish that combines tender chicken, flavorful spices, and creamy sauce, all tossed with linguine pasta, perfect for quick and delicious weeknight dinners.
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 if available.
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Pasta Preparation
- Boil the linguine according to the package directions in salted water. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining and set the pasta aside.
Chicken Cooking
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Cowboy Butter Sauce Preparation
- In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes; sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- 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.
- Pour in the heavy cream and half of the chopped parsley. Stir gently, cooking for an additional 2 minutes until the sauce lightly thickens.
Combining Ingredients
- Return the chicken to the pan, add the cooked linguine, and parmesan cheese. Toss everything together to coat evenly, adding reserved pasta water as needed to adjust the sauce’s consistency.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with the remaining parsley and extra parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
Serve this dish warm, topped with extra parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Pair it with a side salad or garlic bread for a complete meal. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.