Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine: Easy, Flavor-Packed Pasta Recipe
This dish features tender strips of chicken and perfectly cooked linguine tossed in a rich, creamy, and zesty cowboy butter sauce made from compound butter, garlic, herbs, and a touch of spice. It’s a quick, flavorful meal ready in about 30 minutes, offering a delicious blend of bold, buttery, and slightly spicy flavors.
Ingredients
- 8 oz linguine pasta
- 1 ½ to 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces or strips
- 1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic salt or garlic powder
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 4-6 tbsp unsalted butter cowboy butter made with butter, garlic, paprika, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and herbs
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1-2 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1-2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional, for heat
- Fresh parsley or thyme chopped (for garnish)
- Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, cook linguine until al dente, reserve some pasta water, then drain.
- Season chicken with paprika, garlic salt/powder, salt, pepper, and optionally cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 3-6 minutes per side depending on thickness. Remove and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium, melt butter in the skillet, add minced garlic, sauté until fragrant.
- Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, chicken broth, heavy cream, red pepper flakes, and paprika. Simmer gently until sauce thickens slightly.
- Add Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs; stir to combine.
- Return chicken and linguine to the skillet; toss everything together to coat in the sauce. Use reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Serve garnished with lemon slices, extra parsley, and Parmesan.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for a juicier, more tender meat.
- Adjust red pepper flakes amount for desired spice level.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency perfectly.
- Fresh garlic and herbs elevate the flavor significantly.
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