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Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine: Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta Dinner

This cowboy butter chicken linguine is the ultimate comfort food that transforms weeknight dinners into something truly special with tender chicken strips coated in a rich, garlicky butter sauce with spice. The entire meal comes together in just one pan, making cleanup easy while delivering perfect flavor balance of butter, garlic, and spices.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 580
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 12 oz linguine pasta
  • 1 lb chicken breast, cut into strips
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Cook the linguine according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving about ½ cup of pasta water.
  2. While pasta cooks, season chicken strips with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  3. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and dried oregano.
  4. Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  5. Add the cooked linguine and chicken back to the skillet. Toss everything together, adding pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce that coats the pasta perfectly.
  6. Stir in Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan on top.

Notes

Use quality ingredients for better flavor, cook pasta al dente, adjust cayenne pepper to preferred spice level, and make ahead by preparing chicken/sauce base separately