Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine: a 30-minute creamy pasta that captures the bold flavors of the cowboy butter craze with juicy chicken, al dente linguine, and a silky lemon-herb butter sauce—garlicky, zesty, and endlessly comforting for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz linguine
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Juice and zest of ½ lemon
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- ½ tsp dried thyme or Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook linguine in salted water according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Season chicken with paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Sear until golden and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, zest, parsley, and thyme.
- Return chicken to the skillet and toss in the buttery sauce. Add cooked linguine and a splash of pasta water to loosen the sauce. Stir well until silky and coated.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and toss again. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
- Reserve ½ cup pasta water to help loosen and emulsify the sauce.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to taste for more or less heat.
- Finish with lemon zest for extra brightness and a fresh finish.
- For extra creaminess, you can add an extra tablespoon or two of butter at the end.
- Best served immediately for the creamiest texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 plate, 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: Approximately 675 kcal
- Sugar: Approximately 3 g
- Sodium: Approximately 700 mg
- Fat: Approximately 40 g
- Saturated Fat: Approximately 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approximately 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 68 g
- Fiber: Approximately 3 g
- Protein: Approximately 34 g
- Cholesterol: Approximately 120 mg
Keywords: Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine, creamy garlic butter pasta, lemon butter sauce, easy weeknight dinner, chicken linguine, 30-minute pasta recipe, Italian-American pasta, garlic chicken pasta