Description
A creamy, savory Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine that can be made in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or impressing guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
- Cook Pasta: Boil the linguine in salted water according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Cook Chicken: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter. Add minced garlic, paprika, and optional red pepper flakes, sautéing for about a minute until fragrant.
- Add Flavor Components: Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth (or reserved pasta water). Scrape up any browned bits and gently simmer.
- Creamy Sauce Formation: Pour in heavy cream and half of the chopped parsley. Cook for an additional 2 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Combine All: Return chicken to the pan, add linguine and parmesan cheese. Toss everything together, adjusting sauce consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
- Final Touches: Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Garnish with remaining parsley and extra parmesan before serving hot.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, substitute chicken with chickpeas or grilled vegetables. Feel free to experiment with different pasta shapes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: pasta, chicken, easy weeknight meal, comfort food, creamy sauce