Creamy Chicken Linguine with Cowboy Butter Recipe
This Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a rich and creamy pasta dish featuring tender sautéed chicken breasts tossed with linguine in a buttery garlic cream sauce with a hint of red pepper flakes and fresh parsley. It’s a comforting and flavorful weeknight meal that comes together quickly using simple ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
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, divided
- 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. Set aside for cooking.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve some pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Sauté the Chicken: In a large skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove 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 until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Make the Sauce: Reduce heat to low, add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter and the heavy cream to the skillet. Stir continuously until the mixture is combined into a creamy sauce.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, then add the drained linguine. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach the desired sauce consistency.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in the chopped fresh parsley for a burst of fresh flavor. Adjust salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately for best taste.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency as needed.
- Use fresh parsley for a bright and fresh finish.
- Adjust red pepper flakes based on your preferred spice level.
- This dish pairs well with a crisp green salad and crusty bread.
- To save time, you can use pre-minced garlic or rotisserie chicken in a pinch.
