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Delicious cowboy butter chicken linguine served in a bowl

Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine

A quick and delicious dinner of tender chicken and creamy sauce tossed with linguine, ready in just 30 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 600

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 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

Method
 

Cooking Pasta
  1. Boil the linguine according to the package directions in salted water. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining, then set the pasta aside.
Cooking Chicken
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until browned and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Preparing Cowboy Butter Sauce
  1. In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes; sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
Adding Flavor Components
  1. Stir in the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth (or reserved pasta water). Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, gently simmering.
Creamy Sauce Formation
  1. Pour in the heavy cream and half of the chopped parsley. Stir gently, cooking for an additional 2 minutes until the sauce lightly thickens.
Combining All
  1. Return the chicken to the pan and add the cooked linguine and parmesan cheese. Toss everything together to coat evenly, adding reserved pasta water as needed to adjust the sauce's consistency.
Final Touches
  1. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with the remaining parsley and extra parmesan cheese before serving. Serve immediately to enjoy the delightful flavors!

Notes

This dish is best served hot, right after cooking. You can plate it up in individual bowls and garnish with extra parsley and parmesan cheese. It pairs well with a simple green salad or garlic bread on the side for a complete meal. For an extra kick, feel free to adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your liking.