Description
This creamy cowboy butter chicken linguine combines tender chicken, golden butter sauce, garlic, herbs, and bright lemon for a fast and comforting pasta dinner.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
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1½ lbs chicken breast or thighs, diced
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½ tsp garlic powder
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½ tsp paprika
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Salt & pepper
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1 tbsp olive oil
For the Pasta:
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12 oz linguine
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1 cup reserved pasta water
For the Sauce:
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½ cup unsalted butter
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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Zest and juice of 1 lemon
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1 tbsp Dijon mustard
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½ tsp red pepper flakes
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Salt & pepper
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¼ cup chopped parsley
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Optional: ¼ cup grated Parmesan
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Optional: 1 cup baby spinach
Instructions
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Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water.
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Season and cook chicken in olive oil until golden and done. Remove from pan.
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In the same pan, melt butter. Add garlic, lemon zest and juice, mustard, and pepper flakes. Simmer 2–3 mins.
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Toss in pasta and chicken. Add pasta water as needed for a silky sauce.
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Stir in herbs, Parmesan, and spinach if using. Serve hot.
Notes
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Add chili flakes for extra heat.
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Swap in shrimp or veggies for variations.
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Store leftovers in fridge up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: American-Inspired Fusion
Nutrition
- Calories: ~550 per serving