Looking for a bold, creamy, and comforting dinner that’s quick enough for weeknights but impressive enough for guests? Enter Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine a dish that wraps juicy chicken, buttery heat, and rich creaminess into every twirl of pasta. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a flavor-packed dinner you’ll want to make again and again.
What Is Cowboy Butter?
Before diving into the recipe, let’s break down what makes this dish stand out: cowboy butter. This zesty, garlicky, spicy compound butter is a Southern-inspired favorite made with butter, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, herbs, and chili flakes. It’s often used as a dipping sauce for grilled meats, but here, we’re using it as the flavorful foundation of a pasta sauce.
Cowboy butter adds tang, heat, and richness to a cream-based sauce that coats the chicken and linguine beautifully. It’s the secret weapon that takes a basic creamy chicken pasta to the next level.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One of the best parts about this recipe? It uses pantry staples and simple ingredients you probably already have:
Pasta & Chicken
- 8 oz linguine
- 1½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Cowboy Butter Cream Sauce
- ¼ cup cowboy butter (divided)
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp lemon juice
Garnish
- Lemon slices
- Fresh chopped parsley
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Sear the Chicken
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer. Season evenly with paprika, garlic salt, kosher salt, and pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes without stirring until golden brown on the bottom.
3. Add Cowboy Butter
Nestle in 2 tablespoons of cowboy butter. Flip the chicken and continue cooking for 3–4 more minutes, until cooked through and golden on both sides (internal temp of 165°F). Remove chicken to a plate and tent with foil.
4. Make the Sauce
Reduce heat to low. Add remaining cowboy butter, heavy cream, garlic salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. Scrape up any brown bits in the skillet and stir until the butter melts into the sauce.
5. Combine
Return the cooked chicken and linguine to the pan. Toss until everything is well coated. Stir in lemon juice and adjust seasoning if needed.
6. Garnish & Serve
Serve immediately, garnished with lemon slices and chopped parsley.
Tips for Best Results
- Don’t overcrowd the pan: Sear chicken in batches if needed to get that golden crust.
- Customize the spice: Add more or less red pepper flakes based on your heat preference.
- Want it cheesier? Stir in a handful of grated Parmesan for extra richness.
Variations to Try
- Swap the protein: This dish is just as amazing with shrimp, sausage, or tofu.
- Make it vegetarian: Sub the chicken for mushrooms or chickpeas for a hearty meatless version.
- Use different pasta: Penne, fettuccine, or rotini work well if linguine isn’t available.
Why You’ll Love This Dish
Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is everything we love about comfort food: creamy, flavorful, fast, and flexible. The cowboy butter brings a tangy, spicy twist to the sauce that sets it apart from traditional creamy pastas.
Whether you’re feeding the family or hosting friends, this dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser—and it’s ready in under 30 minutes.
