Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
A hearty and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken bites, smooth linguine, and a rich cowboy butter sauce with hints of garlic, lemon, and spice.
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Colander
- Skillet
- Tongs
- Meat Thermometer
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 ounces linguine
Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch bites
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- ¼ cup cowboy butter divided
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- lemon slices for garnish
- chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil. Add a pinch of salt and cook the linguine until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, then add chicken in a single layer. Sprinkle with paprika, garlic salt, kosher salt, and black pepper. Cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.
- Add 2 tablespoons of cowboy butter to the skillet. Flip the chicken pieces and cook for another 3-4 minutes until fully cooked (165°F internal temperature). Remove chicken from the skillet and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Reduce heat to low. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of cowboy butter, followed by the heavy cream, garlic salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir, scraping up any browned bits from the skillet.
- Return the cooked linguine and chicken to the skillet. Toss everything together, ensuring the pasta and chicken are well coated in the sauce. Simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Add lemon juice and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Garnish with lemon slices and chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
For extra flavor, add grated Parmesan cheese or a sprinkle of dried oregano. Adjust spice levels by increasing or reducing red pepper flakes.
Nutrition Information (Per Serving)
- Calories: 650kcal
- Total Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
- Sodium: 820mg
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 3g
- Protein: 38g