Description
A creamy, savory linguine dish that combines the flavors of garlic, lemon, and spice, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
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 for heat)
- 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 the Pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining and set aside.
- Cook the Chicken: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes, sautéing for around a minute until fragrant.
- Add Flavor Components: Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth (or the reserved pasta water). Simmer gently while scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Creamy Sauce Formation: Pour in the heavy cream and half of the chopped parsley. Stir gently, cooking for an additional 2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine All: Return the chicken to the pan along with the cooked linguine and parmesan cheese. Toss everything together to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed for desired sauce consistency.
- Final Touches: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with remaining parsley and extra parmesan before serving. Serve immediately to savor those enchanting flavors!
Notes
Feel free to swap out the chicken for shrimp or tofu for a different twist on this dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg