Description
Cowboy butter chicken linguine blends rustic American ranch charm with creamy Italian pasta perfection. Rich, herbed butter sauce coats tender chicken and al dente linguine, creating a mouthwatering meal that satisfies hearty appetites with bold, comforting flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) linguine
Chicken:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch bites
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic salt
- 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
- 0.25 teaspoon pepper
Sauce and Garnish:
- 0.25 cup (60 milliliters) cowboy butter, divided
- 0.75 cup (180 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 0.5 teaspoon lemon juice
- lemon slices, for garnish
- parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot, bringing it to a rolling boil. Submerge linguine and cook until it reaches perfect al dente texture, following package guidance. Carefully drain and reserve the pasta.
- Ignite a large skillet over medium-high flame, introducing a thin layer of oil. Strategically place chicken pieces in a single, uncrowded layer. Dust with paprika, garlic salt, ground pepper, and a whisper of salt. Sear for 3-4 minutes until achieving a golden, crisp exterior.
- Introduce the first wave of cowboy butter into the sizzling skillet. Gently flip chicken pieces, continuing to cook until achieving a perfect internal temperature of 165F and developing a rich, caramelized surface.
- Transfer the perfectly cooked chicken to a waiting plate, loosely tenting with foil to preserve warmth and moisture.
- Reduce skillet temperature to a gentle low. Melt remaining cowboy butter, blending seamlessly with heavy cream, a sprinkle of garlic salt, and a provocative hint of red pepper flakes. Deglaze the pan, capturing every nuanced brown bit for maximum flavor complexity.
- Reunite the cooked linguine and seared chicken within the creamy sauce. Drizzle with bright lemon juice, creating a harmonious flavor profile. Garnish with delicate lemon slices for a final, elegant touch before serving.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection Choose high-quality linguine for best texture and ensure water is heavily salted to enhance flavor throughout cooking process.
- Chicken Browning Technique Pat chicken dry before cooking to achieve golden-brown exterior and prevent steaming instead of searing.
- Sauce Stability Use low heat when combining cream and butter to prevent separation and maintain smooth, silky consistency.
- Dietary Adaptations Swap linguine with zucchini noodles for low-carb version or use gluten-free pasta for wheat-sensitive diners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 860 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg