Irresistibly Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine in 30 Minutes Recipe
A quick and flavorful cowboy butter chicken linguine recipe that combines tender chicken breasts with a creamy, garlicky butter sauce infused with paprika, lemon, and Dijon mustard, tossed with perfectly cooked linguine for a comforting and satisfying meal ready in just 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Pasta
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 12 ounces linguine pasta
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Sauce and Seasoning
- 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
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil the linguine in salted water following the package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta. Set the pasta aside for later use.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper, then cook for 5-7 minutes until the chicken is browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes, sautéing for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Flavor Components: Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth (or reserved pasta water). Scrape the browned bits from the skillet bottom while gently simmering the mixture to blend the flavors.
- Creamy Sauce Formation: Pour in the heavy cream along with half of the chopped parsley. Stir gently and cook for an additional 2 minutes until the sauce lightly thickens.
- Combine All: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and add the drained linguine along with grated parmesan cheese. Toss everything together thoroughly to coat the pasta and chicken with the sauce. Add reserved pasta water as needed to adjust the sauce consistency.
- Final Touches: Taste the dish and adjust salt and black pepper if necessary. Garnish with the remaining parsley and extra parmesan cheese before serving immediately.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency as needed for a creamier texture.
- Red pepper flakes are optional and can be omitted if you prefer a milder dish.
- For best results, use freshly grated parmesan cheese for richer flavor.
- Make sure not to overcook the garlic to avoid bitterness in the sauce.
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken, linguine pasta, creamy chicken pasta, easy chicken recipe, quick dinners, garlic butter sauce, chicken linguine
