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Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine

This Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine comes together in just 30 minutes, marrying the rich flavors of butter, garlic, and a hint of lemon for a cozy weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 720
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 12 ounces linguine pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter use unsalted butter so you can control the salt
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced fresh garlic gives it that extra flavor boost
  • 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. Fill a big pot with salted water and boil the linguine according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining.
  2. Toss the pasta lightly with a little olive oil so it doesn’t stick and set aside.
Cooking Chicken
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
  2. Cook the chicken for 5–7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside.
Preparing Sauce
  1. In the same skillet, melt 3 tablespoons butter and add minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
  2. Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Pour in chicken broth or reserved pasta water, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  3. Pour in heavy cream and add half of the chopped parsley. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Combining Ingredients
  1. Return the chicken to the pan, add the cooked linguine, and sprinkle in grated parmesan cheese. Toss everything until coated.
  2. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, garnish with remaining parsley and extra parmesan, and serve immediately.

Notes

For deeper flavor, consider a simple cowboy butter sauce technique. To fix an oily or heavy sauce, stir in reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time.