Description
A quick and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken in a rich, buttery sauce served with linguine, perfect for busy weeknights.
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 the Pasta: In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the linguine according to package instructions. Remember to reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add minced garlic, paprika, and optional 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 any browned bits from the pan as the mixture simmers.
- Creamy Sauce Formation: Pour in the heavy cream, adding half of the chopped parsley. Stir gently and cook for 2 more minutes until the sauce lightly thickens.
- Combine All: Return the cooked chicken to the pan, add the linguine and parmesan cheese. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water to achieve your desired sauce consistency.
- Final Touches: Taste and adjust salt and pepper as necessary. Garnish with the remaining parsley and additional parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
For meal prep, consider making components ahead of time. Adjust cream based on preference for a lighter dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: chicken, linguine, quick meal, creamy pasta, weeknight dinner