Irresistibly Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
A quick and delicious one-pan meal combining tender chicken, creamy sauce, and linguine in just 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
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
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- 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.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- 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 and cook for an additional 2 minutes until the sauce lightly thickens.
- Return the chicken to the pan, then 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
For an extra kick, add more red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce. Variations include swapping chicken for shrimp or using gluten-free pasta.