Description
A quick and flavorful pasta dish combining juicy chicken, silky linguine, and a zesty cowboy butter sauce made with garlic, herbs, lemon, and spice. Ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Chicken:
- 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- For the Cowboy Butter Sauce:
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried thyme)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- For the Pasta:
- 12 oz (340 g) linguine
- 1 tbsp salt (for pasta water)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: parsley and lemon wedges for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook linguine until al dente, 9–11 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta water. Drain and set aside.
- Cook Chicken: Season chicken with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet, cook chicken strips 6–8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and keep warm.
- Make Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter. Add garlic, cook 30 seconds. Stir in mustard, hot sauce, lemon juice/zest, Worcestershire, and red pepper flakes. Add herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Combine: Return chicken to skillet. Toss with linguine, splash in pasta water, add Parmesan. Stir until creamy and coated.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley, Parmesan, and lemon wedges. Serve hot.
Notes
- Add cream for a richer sauce.
- Substitute shrimp or steak for the chicken.
- Use spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne if preferred.
- Adjust cayenne and hot sauce for spice level.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (¼ of recipe)
- Calories: 585 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 760 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken linguine, cowboy butter pasta, chicken pasta recipe