Description
This Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a rich and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender sautéed chicken in a creamy, buttery sauce infused with garlic, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, it combines simple ingredients to deliver a deliciously satisfying meal.
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
- 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 finely to prepare for cooking.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine pasta until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Before draining, reserve some of the pasta water for adjusting sauce consistency later.
- Sauté 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 the chicken turns golden brown and is cooked through, approximately 6-8 minutes. 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, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.
- Make the Sauce: Lower the heat, then add the remaining butter and the heavy cream to the skillet. Stir continuously until the butter melts and the sauce becomes creamy and well combined.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and add the drained linguine pasta. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Finish by stirring in the chopped fresh parsley for freshness and color.
Notes
- For a spicier flavor, adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your preference.
- Reserve pasta water is key to achieving a smooth, silky sauce that clings to the pasta.
- Use fresh parsley to enhance the freshness and visual appeal of the dish.
- Be careful not to burn the garlic; sauté just until fragrant to avoid bitterness.
- This dish pairs well with a crisp green salad or steamed vegetables for a balanced meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American Fusion
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken, linguine pasta, creamy garlic chicken, easy dinner recipe, one-pan pasta
