Description
This Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a rich and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken pieces sautéed with smoky spices and cowboy butter, tossed in a creamy, slightly spicy sauce with heavy cream and lemon juice. Perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner, it combines the heartiness of chicken with the indulgence of a buttery, garlicky cream sauce and bright lemony accents.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 8 ounces linguine pasta
For the Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons cowboy butter, divided
For the Sauce
- ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) cowboy butter, divided
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
For Garnish
- Lemon slices
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside while you prepare the rest of the dish.
- Cook Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces evenly with paprika, garlic salt, kosher salt, and black pepper. Add the chicken to the hot skillet and cook until golden brown and fully cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. In the last few minutes of cooking, stir in 2 tablespoons of cowboy butter to infuse the chicken with rich flavor. Once done, remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make Sauce: Lower the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining cowboy butter, heavy cream, garlic salt, and crushed red pepper flakes to the same skillet. Use a spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, stirring until the butter has melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Combine and Serve: Return the cooked linguine and chicken to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything thoroughly to coat the pasta and chicken evenly with the creamy sauce. Stir in the lemon juice for a bright finish. Plate the pasta and chicken mixture, then garnish with fresh lemon slices and chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon slices and parsley to add a fresh and vibrant touch to balance the rich sauce.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- For a lighter dish, you can substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream, though the sauce will be less rich.
- Ensure the chicken is cut into uniform pieces to cook evenly.
- Reserve some pasta water if the sauce needs thinning when tossing the pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
