Description
A delightful dish combining tender chicken breasts in a creamy, buttery garlic sauce with perfectly cooked linguine, ready in just 30 minutes.
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 for heat)
- 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 the Pasta: Start by boiling the linguine according to the package instructions in a pot of salted water. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Cook for about 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add minced garlic, paprika, and optional red pepper flakes. Sauté 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 any browned bits from the bottom of the pan while simmering.
- Creamy Sauce Formation: Pour in heavy cream and half of the chopped parsley. Stir gently, cooking for an additional 2 minutes until the sauce lightly thickens.
- Combine All: Return the chicken to the skillet. Add cooked linguine and parmesan cheese, tossing everything together and adding reserved pasta water as necessary.
- Final Touches: Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with remaining parsley and extra parmesan cheese before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
For a meat-free option, substitute chicken with turkey or tofu. Best served fresh and hot with a crisp green salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sauteing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: pasta, chicken, creamy sauce, weeknight dinner