Description
A creamy, zesty, slightly spicy pasta dish inspired by cowboy butter. This quick 30-minute recipe combines tender chicken, buttery linguine, garlic, lemon, herbs, and chili flakes for a bold and comforting dinner that feels gourmet yet fits into busy weeknights.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Cowboy Butter Sauce:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme)
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
For the Pasta:
12 ounces linguine
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish)
½ cup reserved pasta water
Optional garnish: lemon wedges, extra parsley, or red pepper flakes
Instructions
Cook pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to boil. Cook linguine until al dente (9–10 minutes). Reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain, and set aside.
Cook chicken: Season chicken with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high. Cook 6–7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
Make cowboy butter sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in red pepper flakes, Dijon, lemon juice, zest, parsley, chives, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
Combine: Return chicken to skillet. Add drained pasta. Toss until coated in sauce.
Adjust consistency: Stir in Parmesan cheese. If too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until glossy and smooth.
Serve: Garnish with extra Parmesan, parsley, or lemon juice. Serve hot.
Notes
Always salt pasta water generously for best flavor.
Do not overcook garlic; keep it fragrant, not browned.
Add cheese off the heat to prevent clumping.
Reserve pasta water for silky sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet / One-Pan Pasta
- Cuisine: American with Italian influence
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg
Keywords: Cowboy butter chicken linguine, cowboy butter pasta, chicken linguine with herbs, garlic butter chicken pasta