Irresistibly Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine in 30 Minutes Recipe
This irresistible Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a creamy, garlicky pasta dish featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a rich butter sauce with lemon zest, Dijon mustard, and a hint of paprika. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights, delivering comforting American flavors with a fresh twist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces linguine pasta
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ cup chicken broth or reserved pasta water
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil the linguine in salted water according to package directions. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta water. Drain and set the pasta aside.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter. Add minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Flavor Components: Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth or reserved pasta water. Scrape browned bits from bottom of pan. Simmer gently.
- Creamy Sauce Formation: Pour in heavy cream and half the chopped parsley. Stir gently and cook for 2 minutes until sauce lightly thickens.
- Combine All: Return chicken to skillet. Add cooked linguine and parmesan cheese. Toss to coat evenly, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired sauce consistency.
- Final Touches: Adjust salt and black pepper to taste. Garnish with remaining parsley and extra parmesan cheese. Serve immediately for best flavor.
Notes
- Always save some pasta water before draining; it helps loosen the sauce and enhances coating on the pasta.
- Sauté garlic until just fragrant to prevent bitterness from overcooking.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to balance spice according to preference or omit for a mild dish.
- When reheating leftovers, add a splash of milk or water to maintain creamy consistency.
- Freeze pasta and sauce separately for best texture when stored long term.
Keywords: Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine, easy pasta recipe, family-friendly dinner
