Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine Recipe
Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a flavorful and creamy pasta dish featuring tender, seasoned chicken breasts sautéed in a buttery garlic sauce infused with smoked paprika, Dijon mustard, and red pepper flakes. Tossed with linguine and finished with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, this comforting meal is perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz linguine
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Season and Cook Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked through and no longer pink inside. Remove the chicken from the skillet and slice it into strips.
- Sauté Garlic and Build Sauce: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and chicken broth. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Finish the Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and stir continuously until the sauce thickens slightly. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and mix until the sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, adjust the consistency by adding some reserved pasta water gradually.
- Combine Chicken and Pasta: Add the sliced chicken and the drained linguine back into the skillet. Toss everything together to coat the pasta and chicken thoroughly in the creamy sauce. Heat through for an additional minute to meld everything together.
- Serve: Plate the Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine immediately, garnished with chopped fresh parsley for a burst of color and fresh flavor.
Notes
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to desired spice level.
- Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce consistency if needed.
- Can substitute chicken breasts with thighs, adjusting cooking time accordingly.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cream for half-and-half or milk, but sauce will be less rich.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and melting quality.
Keywords: chicken linguine, creamy chicken pasta, smoked paprika chicken, easy pasta dinner, skillet chicken recipe, creamy garlic sauce linguine
