Description
Enjoy bold flavors with the best Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine! Quick and satisfying, it’s perfect for busy weeknights. Try it tonight!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 8 oz linguine
- Salted water, for boiling
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook until al dente, about 9–11 minutes. Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water before draining. Toss drained pasta lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking and set aside.
- In a bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne (if using), salt, and pepper. Toss with the cubed chicken until well coated.
- Heat olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and sear for 3–4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from pan and tent with foil.
- In the same skillet (do not clean), reduce heat to medium-low. Add softened butter and melt gently. Stir in minced garlic and sauté for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Add chicken broth, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard. Whisk together and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Simmer gently until smooth but do not let it boil.
- Return cooked chicken along with its juices back into the skillet. Add linguine noodles and gently toss everything together. Use reserved pasta water as needed to help coat the pasta with sauce.
- Turn off heat and stir in chopped parsley. Garnish with additional parsley, cracked black pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately with lemon wedges for an extra burst of brightness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (250g)
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: Feel free to customize by adding vegetables like spinach or bell peppers. Adjust spices according to your heat preference.