Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine Recipe
A creamy, flavorful cowboy butter chicken linguine made with tender diced chicken, rich butter and cream sauce, fresh garlic, and a hint of spice from red pepper flakes, all tossed with perfectly cooked linguine pasta. This easy one-pan dish brings comforting American flavors to your weeknight dinner table.
- 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
Protein
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
Pasta
- 8 oz linguine pasta
Sauce & Seasonings
- 4–5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 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 garlic cloves finely to prepare for cooking.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes. Before draining, reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency later.
- Sauté the Chicken: In a large skillet, melt half of the butter over medium heat. Add the diced chicken, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes until the chicken pieces are golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add Garlic and Spices: Using the same skillet, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Create the Sauce: Reduce the heat to low, then add the remaining butter and heavy cream to the skillet. Stir continuously until the sauce is combined and creamy.
- Combine Everything: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet with the sauce. Add the cooked linguine pasta and toss to coat everything evenly. Use the reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce to your preferred consistency. Finish by stirring in the fresh chopped parsley.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce thickness as needed.
- For extra heat, increase red pepper flakes to taste.
- Use fresh parsley for best flavor, but dried parsley can be substituted if unavailable.
- Ensure chicken pieces are cooked thoroughly before combining with sauce.
- This dish is best served immediately for optimal texture and flavor.
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken, linguine pasta, creamy chicken pasta, easy chicken dinner, stovetop pasta recipe
