Description
Creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a rich, flavorful American pasta dish featuring tender chicken thighs cooked with smoky spices and a luscious buttery cream sauce, tossed with al dente linguine and finished with fresh parsley. Perfect for a comforting and indulgent weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 1 lb linguine pasta
For the Chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the Sauce
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook the Linguine: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Cook the Chicken: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces, seasoning them with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Cook the chicken for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Prepare the Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a simmer. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss it in the creamy sauce to coat evenly.
- Toss with Pasta: Add the cooked linguine to the skillet and toss everything together thoroughly, gradually adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until reaching the desired sauce consistency.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the dish with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately for the best flavor.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, increase the amount of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to taste.
- You can substitute chicken breasts for thighs if preferred, though thighs provide more richness.
- Serve this dish with crusty bread to soak up the extra creamy sauce.
