Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine (Print Format)

Seasoned chicken and linguine pasta in a rich, creamy cowboy butter sauce with bold flavors and fresh herbs.

# Ingredients:

→ Main ingredients

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes
02 - 8 oz linguine pasta
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1 tablespoon butter

→ Seasonings for the chicken

05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
07 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
09 - Salt and black pepper to taste
10 - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Cowboy butter sauce

11 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
14 - ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
15 - ¼ cup chicken broth
16 - ¼ cup heavy cream
17 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook your linguine until al dente according to package directions. Before draining, reserve ¼ cup of that starchy pasta water - it's liquid gold for making the sauce silky smooth!
02 - Season your cubed chicken generously with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne (if you like heat), salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chicken until it's golden brown and fully cooked through. Set aside and keep warm.
03 - In the same skillet, melt the butter and add chicken broth, heavy cream, Dijon mustard, and red pepper flakes if you're using them. Let this amazing mixture simmer and thicken for about 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.
04 - Add your cooked chicken and drained pasta to the creamy sauce, tossing everything together until beautifully coated. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and lemon juice. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of that reserved pasta water to get the perfect consistency.
05 - Transfer to serving plates and garnish with additional fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while the sauce is creamy and the pasta is hot - this is comfort food at its finest!

# Tips:

01 - Cowboy butter is traditionally a compound butter with herbs and spices - this pasta version captures all those bold flavors in a creamy, dreamy sauce.
02 - You can easily substitute the chicken with shrimp for a seafood twist, or use firm tofu for a vegetarian version.
03 - Add some color and nutrition by tossing in fresh spinach or halved cherry tomatoes during the last minute of cooking.
04 - For a milder version, simply omit the cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes - you'll still get amazing flavor from the other seasonings.
05 - The reserved pasta water is key to getting that restaurant-quality silky sauce that clings perfectly to every strand of linguine.

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