Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine Recipe
This Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a creamy, flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken sautéed in a buttery garlic sauce with a hint of spice from red pepper flakes. The linguine is tossed in a rich heavy cream sauce accented with fresh parsley, creating a perfect weeknight meal that is quick to prepare and deeply satisfying.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Pasta
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), diced into bite-sized pieces
- 8 oz linguine pasta
Sauce and Seasonings
- 4–5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Dice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and mince the fresh garlic cloves, setting them aside for quick access during cooking.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Before draining, reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency later.
- Sauté Chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt half of the butter. Add the diced chicken pieces, seasoning them with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken until it turns golden brown and is cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Spices: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 1 minute, stirring frequently until fragrant but not burnt.
- Create Sauce: Reduce the heat to low, then add the remaining butter and the heavy cream to the skillet. Stir gently until the butter melts and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained linguine to the sauce, tossing everything together. Gradually add the reserved pasta water as needed to reach your desired sauce consistency.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in the chopped fresh parsley for a bright flavor and garnish. Serve immediately for a warm, comforting meal.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce thickness as needed; the starch helps the sauce cling to the pasta.
- Use unsalted butter to better control the salt level in the dish.
- For less spice, reduce or omit the red pepper flakes.
- Fresh parsley can be substituted with dried parsley if fresh is unavailable, though fresh offers better flavor and color.
- To make this dish gluten-free, substitute linguine with a gluten-free pasta.
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken linguine, creamy chicken pasta, easy chicken linguine recipe, garlic butter chicken pasta, weeknight dinners
