Description
This Irresistibly Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a flavorful, creamy pasta dish made with tender chicken breasts, linguine, and a rich buttery sauce infused with garlic, Dijon mustard, paprika, and lemon. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a perfect weeknight meal combining simple ingredients for a comforting, restaurant-quality dinner at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Pasta
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 12 ounces linguine pasta
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For Cooking
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
Sauce Ingredients
- 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
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or reserved pasta water
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (divided)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil the linguine in salted water according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside for later use.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Cook chicken for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter. Add minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, taking care not to brown the garlic.
- Add Flavor Components: Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth (or reserved pasta water). Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan to enhance flavor. Allow to gently simmer.
- Creamy Sauce Formation: Pour in heavy cream and half of the chopped parsley. Stir gently and cook for 2 more minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine All: Return cooked chicken to the skillet. Add cooked linguine and grated parmesan cheese. Toss everything together to coat pasta evenly, adding reserved pasta water as needed to adjust sauce consistency.
- Final Touches: Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with the remaining chopped parsley and extra parmesan cheese. Serve immediately to enjoy fresh and flavorful pasta.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency and help it adhere to the linguine.
- Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for even cooking and tender texture.
- Red pepper flakes add heat but can be omitted if preferred milder.
- Fresh parsley brightens the dish; substitute with fresh basil or cilantro if desired.
- For gluten-free option, use gluten-free pasta instead of linguine.
