Description
A delightful dish combining juicy chicken and linguine in a creamy butter and garlic sauce, accented with zesty lemon and fresh parsley. Perfect for a cozy family dinner or a quick weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 12 ounces linguine pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or reserved pasta water
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil the linguine according to package instructions in salted water. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining and set aside.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, cooking for about 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter. Add minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes (if using). Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add Flavor Components: Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth/reserved pasta water. Scrape any browned bits from the pan and let it simmer.
- Creamy Sauce Formation: Pour in heavy cream and half of the chopped parsley. Stir together and cook for an additional 2 minutes until lightly thickened.
- Combine All: Return chicken to the sauce, add cooked linguine, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Toss until well coated, using reserved pasta water to adjust consistency if needed.
- Final Touches: Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Garnish with remaining parsley and extra Parmesan before serving.
Notes
For best results, cook pasta al dente and allow chicken to rest before slicing. Customize the heat level with more red pepper flakes if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg