Description
Cowboy butter chicken linguine brings bold southwestern flair to classic Italian pasta with a spicy, creamy twist. Hearty flavors blend seamlessly, offering passionate cooks a quick, irresistible meal that satisfies deep comfort food cravings in mere minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), sliced
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Liquid and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh chives, chopped
- 12 ounces (340 grams) linguine (or pasta of choice)
- 1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
Garnish:
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Fill a spacious cooking vessel with water and generously season with salt, bringing the liquid to a vigorous, rolling boil.
- Submerge linguine strands into the bubbling water, allowing them to dance and soften according to the package guidance until they reach a perfect tender-yet-firm consistency.
- Before draining the pasta, capture a portion of the starchy cooking liquid, carefully measuring out the designated amount and setting it aside for potential sauce enhancement.
Notes
- Enhance pasta water’s starchiness by ensuring it’s generously salted, which helps sauce adhere better to linguine.
- Keep pasta slightly undercooked since it will continue cooking when mixed with hot sauce, preventing mushy texture.
- Use tongs when transferring pasta to sauce for better coating and easier transfer, catching some starchy water in the process.
- For gluten-free option, swap traditional linguine with chickpea or rice pasta to maintain similar texture and flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 870 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg