Cowboy Butter Chicken and Pasta – cooked chicken coated in a creamy sauce and tossed with pasta.
Searching for a linguine chicken pasta that your family will demand seconds of? Rich herb butter is the sauce for the tender chicken and pasta and it covers every single strand perfectly.
Table of contents
- What Makes This Cowboy Butter Pasta The Best?
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How to Make Cowboy Butter Chicken and Pasta
- Tips for Making the Perfect Linguine Pasta Recipes with Chicken
- Variations to Try
- Storage and Reheating
- Frequently Asked Questions About Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
- Why This Recipe Works
- Make It Your Own
- More Delicious Recipe Ideas
What Makes This Cowboy Butter Pasta The Best?
This is not your run of the mill chicken linguine recipe. The cowboy butter sauce is a blend of garlic, herbs and a touch of spice that takes regular ingredients and makes them restaurant worthy. Best part? It’s ready in about 30 minutes — if that.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Chicken:
1 pound of boneless and skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp paprika
For the Cowboy Butter Sauce:
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp lemon juice
Salt to taste
For the Pasta:
12 oz linguine noodles
1/4 cup reserved pasta water
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Here is what you will need to make Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine Ingredients: 2 large chicken breasts, chopped into cubes 1-2 tbsp.
How to Make Cowboy Butter Chicken and Pasta
Step 1: Make the Cowboy Butter
Toss together softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, chives, oregano, red pepper flakes and lemon juice. Step aside — it is that herb butter that takes this dish over the top.
Step 2: Cook the Linguine
Bring salted water to a boil and cook linguine as directed on the package. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water before draining. Starch thickens and holds the sauce.
Step 3: Cook the Chicken
Season the chicken with the salt, pepper, and paprika. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high. 5-6 minutes on each side or until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
Step 4: Bring It Together
Then in the same skillet, place the cowboy butter mixture. Let it melt and become fragrant — about 1 minute. Add cooked linguine and coat with tongs. If you like, add some pasta water to help coat the noodles.
Step 5: Finish and Serve
Add chicken back to the pan and toss all ingredients. Top with parmesan and more herbs if you like.
Tips for Making the Perfect Linguine Pasta Recipes with Chicken
The chicken should not be over cooked – they are cut thin and cook quick.
Keep a little pasta water back – it makes the sauce cling
Use fresh herbs if you have them, but dried is fine
Allow the butter to turn golden to impart even more flavor
Variations to Try
Ready to change it up with this chicken with linguine noodles recipe? Here are some ideas:
Spicy Version
Increase the red pepper flakes amount or add a splash hot sauce to the cowboy butter
Veggie Add-ins
Add some cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, or spinach
Variety of Proteins
This cowboy butter is delicious with shrimp or even steak strips. For more protein-rich recipes, check out our Black Pepper Chicken for another flavorful chicken dish.
Storage and Reheating
It will be good in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
What is cowboy butter made of?
Cowboy butter is a compound butter (meaning one that has ingredients beaten in) with garlic, parsley, chives, oregano, red pepper flakes and lemon juice. This one is called “cowboy” because the bold, rustic flavors are enough to knock the boots off a hungry cattle herder.
What is a cowboy chicken?
Cowboy chicken is usually a term used to describe chicken that’s heavily seasoned with robust, smoky flavors. Here, it’s the chicken getting a smothering of that signature cowboy butter sauce.
How do you make butter chicken for the best?
The secret is to use real butter (not margarine), and fresh herbs if you can. Don’t rush the process — your butter should be golden and fragrant before introducing the rest of the crew.
What does cowboy butter taste like to the masses?
Cowboy butter is nice and rich and garlicky with fresh herbs and a little bit of heat from red pepper flakes. It’s savory-bitter, fragrant, and has a tiny acidic finish from the lemon juice.
What is cowboy butter at Beef O’Brady’s?
Cowboy butter from Beef O’Brady’s is their signature appetizer sauce. The two are similar in principle, but this one is a pasta-friendly version that clings wonderfully to linguine.
Why This Recipe Works
This cowboy butter chicken linguine is music on a plate – it’s quick enough for a busy weeknight dinner, but fun and tasty enough to serve to company! The herb butter sauce is what makes it unique from a regular linguine chicken pasta recipe.
Fresh herbs, garlic and a little heat form layers of flavor that highlight both the succulent chicken and that chewy, al dente pasta. And, well, one-pan meals mean less cleanup.
Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Pot for boiling pasta
- Tongs
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp paprika
For the Cowboy Butter Sauce:
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives chopped
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Salt to taste
For the Pasta:
- 12 oz linguine noodles
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
Make the Cowboy Butter:
- In a bowl, mix together softened butter, garlic, parsley, chives, oregano, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, and salt. Set aside.
Cook the Linguine:
- Boil salted water and cook linguine according to package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water before draining.
Cook the Chicken:
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and cook chicken for 5–6 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
Melt the Cowboy Butter:
- In the same skillet, add the cowboy butter and let it melt and become fragrant, about 1 minute.
Toss the Pasta:
- Add cooked linguine to the skillet and toss to coat with the butter sauce. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
Finish the Dish:
- Return chicken to the pan and toss with the pasta. Top with parmesan cheese and additional herbs if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Make It Your Own
Feel free to change up the spices and herbs to your liking. There are those that add more garlic, some more heat. That’s where cowboy butter comes in — it’s forgiving and customizable.
This recipe for cowboy butter pasta is a celebration of simple, as it only takes a few ingredients to make something truly delicious. The best dishes can be made from humble ingredients cooked well.
More Delicious Recipe Ideas
If you’re looking for other hearty and satisfying meals, try our Three Bean Chili for a protein-packed comfort food option, or our Black Bean Quinoa Burger for a healthy plant-based meal. For those seeking more high-protein options, our Lentil Bowl is another excellent choice.
Give cowboy butter chicken linguine a whirl tonight and find out for yourself why it’s becoming a family staple all across the globe. Your game and your pasta will never be the same.
