Description
A creamy and flavorful linguine dish featuring tender chicken and a delightful Cowboy Butter sauce, perfect for quick weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 12 ounces linguine pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or reserved pasta water
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: In a large pot, boil the linguine according to package directions in salted water. Set aside ½ cup of the pasta water before draining.
- Cook the Chicken: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and cook for 5-7 minutes or until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes, cooking for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add Flavor Components: Stir in the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth (or reserved pasta water). Gently scrape the bottom of the pan to release browned bits and simmer.
- Creamy Sauce Formation: Pour in the heavy cream along with half of the chopped parsley. Stir gently and cook for an additional 2 minutes until the sauce lightly thickens.
- Combine All: Return the chicken to the skillet, add the cooked linguine, and mix in the parmesan cheese. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to adjust the sauce consistency.
- Final Touches: Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired. Garnish with the remaining parsley and additional parmesan cheese before serving. Enjoy immediately!
Notes
Consider using whole wheat linguine for a healthier twist or swapping heavy cream with Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg