Description
This Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a creamy, flavorful pasta dish featuring sautéed chicken, garlic, red pepper flakes, and a rich butter and heavy cream sauce, all perfectly tossed with linguine pasta. Ready in just 35 minutes, it’s a delicious weeknight dinner that combines the hearty taste of tender chicken with a luscious creamy sauce and a hint of spice.
Ingredients
Scale
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
- Prepare your ingredients: Dice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and mince the fresh garlic cloves. This prep will ensure quick and even cooking.
- Cook the 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 a cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Sauté the chicken: In a large skillet, melt half of the butter over medium heat. Add the diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add garlic and red pepper flakes: Using the same skillet, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about one minute until fragrant, taking care not to burn the garlic.
- Create the sauce: Lower the heat and add the remaining butter and heavy cream to the skillet. Stir continuously until the mixture is creamy and well combined.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss in the drained linguine. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time to achieve the desired sauce consistency. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley to finish.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency as needed, helping it cling better to the linguine.
- You can substitute chicken breasts with thighs for a juicier result.
- For extra flavor, add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level.
- This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the creamy sauce at its peak.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: chicken linguine, cowboy butter chicken, creamy pasta, easy dinner, quick chicken pasta
