Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a quick, flavor-packed pasta dinner that turns simple ingredients into something unforgettable. With tender, golden-brown chicken, silky linguine, and a rich, zesty cowboy butter sauce, this dish is indulgent, satisfying, and ready in just 30 minutes. It’s the kind of meal that tastes like it came from a restaurant—but you made it in one pan at home.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Pasta:
- 8 oz linguine
- Salted water, for boiling
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
For the Cowboy Butter Sauce:
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta – Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook linguine until al dente, about 9–11 minutes. Before draining, reserve ¼ cup of pasta water. Drain and lightly toss with olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
- Season and Sear the Chicken – Mix garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Toss over the cubed chicken. Sear in a skillet until golden brown and fully cooked. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil.
- Make the Cowboy Butter Sauce – In the same skillet, melt butter and add garlic. Stir in chicken broth, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard. Add heavy cream and Parmesan, simmer until slightly thickened.
- Bring It All Together – Return chicken to the skillet. Add cooked linguine and toss together. Add reserved pasta water if needed. Simmer briefly.
- Finish and Serve – Stir in parsley. Garnish with more parsley, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Serve with lemon slices.
Notes
- Use High-Quality Butter – European-style butter with higher fat content creates a deeper, richer sauce.
- Cut Chicken Evenly – Uniform 1-inch cubes help ensure even cooking and juicy texture.
- Low Heat for the Sauce – Keep the sauce just under a simmer after adding cream to prevent separation.
- Pasta Water Magic – Just a splash of reserved pasta water transforms the sauce, helping it cling to every strand.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Frying, Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
