Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a quick, comforting pasta dish featuring juicy chicken, silky linguine, and a bold, garlicky cowboy butter sauce with herbs, lemon, and a touch of heat. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz dried linguine
- 2 large chicken breasts (about 1 lb), cut into bite-sized pieces
- Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
- 3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp chives, chopped (optional)
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (for serving, optional)
- 2 cups baby spinach (optional)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook according to package directions until just al dente (9-11 minutes). Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
- While pasta cooks, pat chicken breasts dry and cut into bite-sized pieces. Season generously with kosher salt and black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until golden. Flip and cook another 2-3 minutes until just cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate.
- In the same skillet over medium heat, add unsalted butter. Once melted, stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add Dijon mustard, lemon juice, parsley, chives, crushed red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir until combined.
- Add drained linguine and cooked chicken to the skillet. Toss everything together, adding a splash of reserved pasta water to help the sauce coat the pasta. If using spinach or cherry tomatoes, add now and cook until just wilted (about 1 minute).
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and more lemon if needed. Serve immediately, topped with grated Parmesan and extra herbs.
Notes
For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta. For dairy-free, use vegan butter and skip the Parmesan. Adjust red pepper flakes for desired heat. Reserve pasta water to help the sauce cling to the pasta. Add extra greens or veggies as desired. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of recipe (1 heaping bowl)
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 540
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 32
Keywords: cowboy butter, chicken linguine, pasta, easy dinner, 30-minute meal, garlic butter, comfort food, weeknight dinner, skillet chicken, creamy pasta