Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a creamy, spicy, and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken, a buttery herb sauce, and linguine. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners or casual entertaining, ready in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 8 oz linguine pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook linguine until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Season chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne (if using), salt, and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken until golden and fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt 1 tbsp of butter. Add chicken broth, heavy cream, Dijon mustard, and red pepper flakes (if using). Simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Return chicken to the skillet. Add the cooked linguine and toss to coat.
- Stir in Parmesan, parsley, and lemon juice. Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve immediately, garnished with more parsley and Parmesan.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs for a juicier result.
- For a milder dish, omit cayenne and red pepper flakes.
- Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter option.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken linguine, spicy chicken pasta, creamy chicken linguine, weeknight dinner recipe