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Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine Recipe

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4.5 from 66 reviews

This Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a flavorful and creamy pasta dish featuring tender chicken breast pieces sautéed in garlic butter and tossed with linguine pasta. The rich sauce is made from butter and heavy cream, seasoned with red pepper flakes and fresh parsley for a delightful balance of heat and freshness. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner that feels indulgent yet approachable.

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), diced into bite-sized pieces

Pasta

  • 8 oz linguine pasta

Sauce

  • 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

  1. Prepare Ingredients: Dice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and mince the garlic cloves finely to ensure even cooking and flavor distribution.
  2. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of pasta water to help adjust the sauce consistency later.
  3. Sauté Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt half (3 tbsp) of the butter. Add the diced chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Sauté Garlic and Red Pepper Flakes: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 1 minute or until fragrant, making sure not to burn the garlic.
  5. Create Sauce: Reduce the heat to low and add the remaining butter and the heavy cream to the skillet. Stir constantly until the butter is melted and the sauce becomes creamy and well combined.
  6. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and add the drained linguine. Toss everything together to coat the pasta and chicken in the cowboy butter sauce. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
  7. Finish and Serve: Stir in the chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color and fresh flavor. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately while hot.

Notes

  • Reserve pasta water carefully; a little goes a long way in adjusting sauce consistency.
  • For a spicier dish, increase the amount of red pepper flakes.
  • Use fresh parsley for best flavor, but dried parsley can be substituted in a pinch.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheated gently on the stove or microwave.

Find it online: https://mealoria.com/cowboy-butter-chicken-linguine-recipe/