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Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine

Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
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Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a rich and creamy pasta dinner featuring tender chicken breast cooked in a velvety butter and heavy cream sauce, accented with garlic, smoked paprika, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for quick weeknight meals or impressive family dinners, this dish combines simple ingredients for a comforting, flavorful experience that can be customized to fit various dietary preferences.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

  • 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces

Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Pasta

  • 12 oz linguine pasta

Garnishes

  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, then season generously with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat and cook the chicken pieces until golden brown and fully cooked, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.
  2. Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add the remaining butter and minced garlic. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned, releasing the garlic’s aroma.
  3. Make the Creamy Butter Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and stir well, scraping up any flavorful bits from the chicken. Let the sauce simmer gently until slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes. Then stir in the Parmesan cheese and lemon juice until the sauce is smooth.
  4. Cook the Linguine: While the sauce simmers, cook the linguine according to package instructions until just shy of al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving a small amount of pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
  5. Combine Everything: Add the cooked chicken back into the skillet along with the drained linguine. Toss everything together to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as necessary to achieve the desired consistency. Finish by sprinkling chopped fresh parsley on top before serving.

Notes

  • Cut chicken pieces uniformly for even cooking and tender bites.
  • Use high-quality unsalted butter for optimal flavor and salt control.
  • Cook linguine just shy of al dente to avoid overcooking when combined with sauce.
  • Grate Parmesan fresh from a block for best texture and taste.
  • Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce thickness rather than adding extra cream.
  • Let the dish rest off heat for a couple of minutes to meld flavors before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine, creamy chicken pasta, butter sauce pasta, quick chicken dinner, smoky chicken linguine, comfort food pasta

Find it online: https://lillysplate.com/cowboy-butter-chicken-linguine/