Irresistibly Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine in 30 Minutes Recipe
This irresistibly easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a luscious, creamy pasta dish packed with tender chicken, bold flavors from Dijon mustard and paprika, and a zesty lemon kick. Ready in just 30 minutes, it combines perfectly cooked linguine with a rich buttery sauce enhanced by garlic, parmesan, and fresh parsley, making it an ideal weeknight dinner that feels gourmet yet is simple to prepare.
- 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
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Pasta
- 12 ounces linguine pasta
Sauce
- 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 (divided)
- 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 according to package directions. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of pasta water to adjust sauce consistency later. Set pasta aside once cooked.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook chicken pieces for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and keep aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter. Add 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 skillet bottom to release browned bits while gently simmering.
- Creamy Sauce Formation: Pour in heavy cream and half of the chopped parsley. Stir gently and cook for an additional 2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine All: Return cooked chicken to skillet. Add cooked linguine and grated parmesan cheese. Toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients in the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as necessary to reach desired sauce consistency.
- Final Touches: Taste and adjust salt and pepper to preference. Garnish with remaining parsley and extra parmesan cheese. Serve immediately to enjoy.
Notes
- Reserving pasta water helps in adjusting the sauce’s thickness and helps it cling better to the pasta.
- Red pepper flakes are optional but add a slight spicy kick, feel free to omit if sensitive to spice.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for best flavor and meltability.
- Chicken broth can be substituted completely by reserved pasta water for a lighter sauce.
- To ensure chicken cooks evenly, slice into similar-sized pieces before cooking.
Keywords: Cowboy butter chicken, linguine pasta, creamy chicken pasta, easy chicken dinner, quick pasta recipe, buttery garlic sauce
