Description
This Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a rich and flavorful pasta dish that features tender chicken bites cooked to golden perfection, tossed in a creamy cowboy butter sauce infused with garlic, paprika, and a hint of heat from red pepper flakes. Garnished with fresh lemon slices and parsley, this meal is ready in just 25 minutes, making it an excellent choice for a quick yet indulgent dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces linguine
Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch bites
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup (4 tablespoons / 57 g) cowboy butter, divided
Sauce
- ¾ cup (178.5 g) heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
Garnish
- Lemon slices, for garnish
- Parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Linguine: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente according to package instructions, typically about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Cook Chicken: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Season the chicken bites with paprika, garlic salt, kosher salt, and pepper. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until golden brown on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Add half of the cowboy butter to the skillet and continue to cook until the chicken is browned and fully cooked through.
- Prepare Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the remaining cowboy butter over medium heat. Add the heavy cream, garlic salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir the mixture continuously until well combined and slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Combine Dish: Add the cooked linguine and chicken back into the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are fully coated in the creamy cowboy butter sauce. Stir in the lemon juice to brighten the flavors.
- Serve: Plate the linguine and chicken mixture, garnish with fresh lemon slices and chopped parsley for a fresh and vibrant finish. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add a splash of white wine to the sauce while it simmers.
- Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Cowboy butter is a flavorful compound butter usually made with herbs and spices; it can be substituted with garlic herb butter if needed.
- Make sure not to overcook the linguine to keep it perfectly al dente.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
