Description
This cowboy butter chicken linguine easy dinner idea combines everything you want in a weeknight meal. It comes together in under 30 minutes and features a flavorful cowboy butter sauce that coats the pasta and chicken beautifully.
Ingredients
1 pound Linguine pasta
1.5 pounds Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup Unsalted butter, softened
4 cloves Garlic, minced
1/4 cup Fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons Fresh chives, chopped
1 tablespoon Fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons Lemon juice
1 teaspoon Lemon zest
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon Red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon Smoked paprika
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons Olive oil
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add linguine and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve one cup of pasta water before draining
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, prepare the cowboy butter. In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, chives, thyme, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, and smoked paprika. Mix thoroughly until well combined. Set aside
- Step 3: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 6-7 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Remove from skillet and let rest for five minutes, then slice into strips
- Step 4: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium-low. Add half the cowboy butter and let it melt, scraping up any browned bits from the chicke
- Step 5: Add drained linguine to the skillet with the melted cowboy butter. Toss well to coat. Add remaining cowboy butter and continue tossing. If the pasta seems dry, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until you reach desired consistency
- Step 6: Add sliced chicken back to the skillet. Toss everything together gently. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed
- Step 7: Serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh herbs and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if desired
Notes
Always use softened butternot melted. Softened butter emulsifies better with the pasta water, creating a silkier sauce.
Don't skip reserving pasta water. That starchy water helps the cowboy butter cling to every strand of linguine.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 145mg