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Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine

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Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a comforting, family-friendly pasta dish featuring juicy chicken, silky linguine, and a bold, garlicky cowboy butter sauce packed with herbs, lemon, and a touch of spice. It’s quick, easy, and guaranteed to bring everyone to the table for a cozy, satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chives or green onions, finely sliced
  • Zest of 1 large lemon
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (sweet or smoked)
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to season chicken
  • 12 ounces linguine (regular or whole wheat)
  • 1 cup pasta cooking water, reserved
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Extra parsley or chives, for garnish (optional)
  • Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, mash together the softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, paprika, and red pepper flakes (if using). Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside at room temperature.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta (do not rinse).
  3. While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add chicken to the skillet in a single layer and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate.
  4. Reduce skillet heat to medium-low. Add the cowboy butter mixture to the pan and let it melt, stirring so the garlic and herbs don’t brown too fast.
  5. Once melted and fragrant (about 1-2 minutes), return the cooked chicken to the skillet and stir to coat in the butter sauce.
  6. Add the drained linguine to the skillet. Toss everything together.
  7. Pour in about half of the reserved pasta water (1/2 cup) and the grated Parmesan cheese. Toss until the sauce clings to the pasta, adding more pasta water as needed for a silky, glossy sauce.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more lemon juice, salt, or pepper as desired.
  9. Serve hot, topped with extra herbs, more Parmesan, and lemon wedges on the side.

Notes

For a dairy-free version, use plant-based butter and vegan Parmesan. Gluten-free pasta works well—just watch the cook time. Add spinach, cherry tomatoes, or bell peppers for extra veggies. Use chicken thighs for juicier meat, or swap in shrimp or rotisserie chicken for variety. Reserve pasta water for a creamy sauce, and use fresh herbs for best flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: cowboy butter, chicken linguine, comfort food, family dinner, easy pasta, weeknight meal, garlic butter pasta, herby chicken pasta, skillet dinner, creamy linguine

Find it online: https://magnetmeal.com/cowboy-butter-chicken-linguine-recipe-best-easy-family-comfort-dinner/