Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a creamy, zesty pasta dish made with tender chicken, garlic butter sauce, Dijon mustard, lemon, and fresh herbs. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a rich and flavorful comfort meal perfect for busy weeknights or cozy dinners.
Ingredients
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
12 ounces linguine pasta
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 linguine in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining and set aside.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken for 5–7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter. Add garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes, and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth (or pasta water), scraping up browned bits from the pan.
- Pour in heavy cream and add half of the chopped parsley. Simmer gently for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add chicken back to the skillet along with linguine and Parmesan cheese. Toss until coated in the sauce, adding a splash of pasta water if needed for creaminess.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot, garnished with remaining parsley and extra Parmesan.
Notes
Swap chicken for shrimp, salmon, or tofu for variety.
Add spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, or roasted peppers for color and nutrients.
Use half-and-half for a lighter sauce or coconut cream for dairy-free version.
Don’t boil the sauce after adding cream to prevent curdling.
Garnish with lemon slices or chili flakes for a bold finish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
