Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a hearty American pasta dish featuring tender strips of seasoned chicken sautéed to perfection, tossed in a rich, buttery sauce infused with garlic, herbs, and tangy lemon. Served over perfectly cooked linguine and finished with Parmesan cheese, this flavorful meal is perfect for a comforting dinner that’s easy to prepare and packed with bold flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces linguine pasta
Chicken & Seasoning
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook the linguine: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Sauté the chicken: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken strips with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Add the chicken to the skillet and sauté until golden brown and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and keep warm.
- Prepare the sauce: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt the butter. Add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Add flavorings: Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes. Lower the heat to low, then add the fresh parsley, chives, and thyme. Stir to combine.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add the cooked linguine, Parmesan cheese, and reserved pasta water into the skillet with the sauce, tossing until the noodles are evenly coated.
- Combine chicken and pasta: Return the cooked chicken strips to the skillet and toss everything together until well combined and heated through.
- Serve: Plate the Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine hot, garnishing with extra chopped herbs and Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- For extra heat, increase the amount of red pepper flakes or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Substitute chicken with shrimp for a seafood variation of this recipe.
- For a creamier sauce, stir in a splash of heavy cream along with the Parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
