Description
Rich and flavorful pasta dinner featuring juicy chicken and linguine tossed in a zesty, herb-infused cowboy butter sauce. This restaurant-quality meal comes together in just 30 minutes!
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Cowboy Butter Sauce
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 lemon, juiced and zested
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
For the Pasta
- 1 pound linguine pasta
- 1/2 cup pasta water (reserved)
- 1/4 cup fresh parmesan cheese, grated
- Extra chopped herbs for garnish
Instructions
- Cook linguine according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 5-7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in parsley, chives, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, zest, and Dijon mustard. Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- Slice chicken breasts against the grain.
- Add cooked linguine to the skillet with the sauce. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce.
- Return sliced chicken to the skillet and gently toss to combine.
- Top with grated parmesan and extra herbs before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate chicken for 2-4 hours before cooking
- Adjust red pepper flakes and cayenne to your heat preference
- Use freshly grated parmesan for best results
- Substitute linguine with any pasta of choice
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Cuisine: American-Italian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-6
- Calories: 580
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 28g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g