Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a flavorful and hearty American main course that combines tender, spiced chicken with a rich buttery sauce, fresh herbs, and Parmesan cheese, all tossed with perfectly cooked linguine pasta. This dish offers a spicy kick balanced by creamy, savory elements, making it an ideal comfort food for dinner.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz linguine pasta
Chicken and Seasonings
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme, dried or fresh
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the linguine: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Season the chicken: In a bowl, combine the chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Toss until the chicken is evenly coated with the seasoning.
- Sear the chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken pieces and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the cowboy butter sauce: Lower the skillet’s heat to medium and add the unsalted butter. Once melted, stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant without browning.
- Add flavorings to the sauce: Stir in the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, crushed red pepper flakes, chopped fresh parsley, chopped fresh chives, and thyme. Mix well and let the sauce simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Combine chicken with sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat the chicken pieces in the cowboy butter sauce.
- Toss with linguine and Parmesan: Add the cooked linguine and grated Parmesan cheese to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce and warmed through.
- Serve and garnish: Serve the Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine warm, garnished with additional fresh herbs or Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes based on your preferred spice level.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with garlic bread or a crisp green salad for a complete meal.
- For a quicker preparation, substitute the cooked chicken with rotisserie chicken, adding it to the sauce just to heat through.
