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Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine Recipe

4.7 from 104 reviews

A quick and flavorful Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine combining tender sautéed chicken with a creamy garlic butter sauce, tossed with perfectly cooked linguine for a satisfying weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

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

Pasta

  • 8 oz linguine pasta

Sauce & Seasoning

  • 45 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 to have all ingredients ready for cooking.
  2. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the linguine until al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes. Reserve some pasta water before draining the pasta to adjust sauce consistency later.
  3. Sauté Chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt half of the butter. Add the diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 6-8 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. 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 until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  5. Make the Sauce: Reduce the heat to low, then add the remaining butter and heavy cream to the skillet. Stir continuously until the butter melts and the sauce becomes creamy and combined.
  6. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked linguine and sautéed chicken back into the skillet. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach your desired sauce consistency. Finish by stirring in the chopped fresh parsley.

Notes

  • Use fresh garlic for the best flavor; garlic powder will not provide the same aroma.
  • Reserve pasta water carefully; the starch helps bind the sauce to the pasta.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes to taste to control the spiciness of the dish.
  • For a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half, but the sauce will be less rich.
  • This dish pairs well with a simple green salad or steamed vegetables.

Keywords: cowboy butter chicken, linguine recipe, creamy chicken pasta, easy dinner, garlic butter sauce, weeknight meal