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Close-up of Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine topped with seasoned chicken pieces and fresh parsley.

Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine

This recipe combines creamy, flavorful cowboy butter sauce with tender chicken and linguine for a quick weeknight meal.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken and Pasta
  • 1 lb Boneless, skinless chicken breasts Cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper
  • 1 tsp Garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp Olive oil
  • 12 oz Linguine pasta
For the Cowboy Butter Sauce
  • 4 tbsp Butter
  • 3 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 1/2 cup Chicken broth
  • 1 cup Heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese Grated
  • 1 tsp Smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Dried oregano
  • 1/4 cup Fresh parsley Chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Large pot

Method
 

  1. Cook the linguine according to package directions. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water before draining. Set the pasta aside.
  2. Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream, smoked paprika, and dried oregano. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
  7. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
  8. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained linguine to the sauce and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated.
  9. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

You can substitute chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer. For extra flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper along with the smoked paprika.

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