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Creamy Cowboy Chicken Linguine

Creamy Cowboy Chicken Linguine
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Creamy Cowboy Chicken Linguine is a comforting and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken breast seasoned with smoky spices, sautéed bell peppers, and a rich, velvety creamy sauce tossed with perfectly cooked linguine. Ready in under 30 minutes, this hearty meal is perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings, offering a balanced blend of smoky, savory, and creamy flavors that everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Seasonings

  • 2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Pasta

  • 8 ounces linguine pasta
  • 1 cup reserved pasta cooking water (optional, for sauce consistency)

Vegetables and Aromatics

  • 1 cup diced bell peppers (any color)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

Sauce Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (plus extra as needed)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Garnish

  • Fresh parsley, chopped
  • Extra Parmesan cheese shavings (optional)

Seasoning

  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Slice the chicken breasts into thin strips. Season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken strips until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  2. Cook the linguine: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving one cup of the cooking water for later use.
  3. Sauté the vegetables: In the same skillet used for chicken, add a touch more olive oil if needed. Add diced bell peppers and minced garlic, sautéing until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Make the creamy sauce: Pour heavy cream into the skillet with the vegetables and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and fully combined. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach desired consistency.
  5. Combine everything: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss with the creamy sauce and sautéed peppers. Add the drained linguine and mix thoroughly, making sure every strand is coated with the rich, smoky sauce.
  6. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese shavings over the top. Serve immediately while warm and creamy for the best experience.

Notes

  • Use room temperature chicken for even cooking and juicy texture.
  • Do not overcook the pasta; al dente is ideal to maintain texture when tossed in sauce.
  • Reserve pasta water to loosen the sauce without diluting flavor.
  • Grate Parmesan cheese fresh for better melting and richer flavor.
  • Simmer cream gently over low heat to prevent sauce from splitting.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy chicken pasta, cowboy chicken linguine, smoky pasta recipe, easy chicken linguine, creamy chicken pasta dinner

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