Go Back
Delicious Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine served in a bowl

Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine

A flavorful and creamy chicken dish served over linguine, perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta Ingredients
  • 12 ounces linguine pasta Use your favorite type of linguine.
Chicken Ingredients
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil For cooking the chicken.
  • Salt to taste Salt
  • Black pepper to taste Black pepper
Cowboy Butter Sauce Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) For some heat.
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice Freshly squeezed.
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth or reserved pasta water
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped For garnish.

Method
 

Cook 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.
Cook Chicken
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper and cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce
  1. In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes; sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
Add Flavor Components
  1. Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth (or reserved pasta water). Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan while 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.
Combine All
  1. Return the chicken to the pan, 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.

Notes

For added flavor, consider adding sun-dried tomatoes or spinach. You can customize with shrimp instead of chicken for a seafood option.