Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine Recipe
Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a creamy, flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked with garlic, paprika, and Italian seasoning, tossed in a luscious butter and cream sauce, then combined with perfectly al dente linguine and topped with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese. This hearty yet comforting recipe is ideal for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
- 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 Seasoning
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Pasta
- 8 oz linguine pasta
Sauce
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients and Boil Pasta Water: Chop the garlic and parsley finely. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil in preparation for cooking the linguine.
- Cook Linguine: Add the linguine to the boiling water and cook until al dente, typically about 8-10 minutes. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency later.
- Cook Chicken: While pasta cooks, heat half of the butter (2 tbsp) in a skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then cook them in the skillet until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per side depending on thickness.
- Sauté Garlic and Spices: Once the chicken is cooked, reduce heat to medium-low. Add the minced garlic, paprika, and Italian seasoning to the skillet and sauté until the garlic is fragrant, approximately 1 minute.
- Make the Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens slightly, coating the chicken nicely.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Drain the linguine and add it to the skillet with the sauce and chicken. Toss everything to combine well, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time as needed to loosen the sauce to your preferred consistency.
- Add Finishing Touches: Stir in the chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese until well mixed. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh garlic and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce thickness to your preference.
- Chicken breasts can be pounded to even thickness for quicker cooking.
- Leftover dish can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Optionally garnish with extra parsley and Parmesan for presentation.
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken linguine, creamy chicken pasta, easy dinner recipe, skillet chicken linguine, garlic butter chicken pasta
