Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine Recipe
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.
- 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
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), diced into bite-sized pieces
Pasta
- 8 oz linguine pasta
Sauce & Seasoning
- 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
- Prepare Ingredients: Dice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and mince the garlic cloves to have all ingredients ready for cooking.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
