This Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is a delightful fusion of hearty cowboy flavors and the comforting creaminess of butter chicken, all tossed with tender linguine. It’s the perfect solution for a quick, satisfying meal that tastes like it took hours to prepare, making it incredibly useful for busy weeknights or when you’re craving something special without the fuss.
Key Ingredients for Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 ounces linguine pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for serving
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper or jalapeño for a little extra cowboy flair
How to Make Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
This Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine is designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort. It’s a one-pot wonder that delivers an incredibly rich, creamy sauce coating perfectly cooked linguine and tender chicken. Prepare to impress yourself and your loved ones with this incredibly delicious and satisfying meal, ready in under 45 minutes!
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cook the Linguine: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the linguine and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining. Drain the linguine and set aside.
- Sear the Chicken: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown on all sides and cooked through (about 5-7 minutes). Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. Don’t worry about cleaning the skillet; those browned bits are flavor!
- Sauté Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped yellow onion to the same skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. If using, add the chopped green bell pepper or jalapeño and cook for another 2-3 minutes until slightly tender.
- Build the Sauce Base: Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the skillet. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Incorporate Tomatoes and Spices: Stir in the smoked paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Cook for another 30 seconds, stirring, to toast the spices and release their aromas. Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
- Simmer and Thicken: Let the tomato mixture simmer gently for about 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to slightly reduce.
- Creamy Finish: Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Continue to stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained linguine to the sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are evenly coated in the luscious sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water, a little at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Fresh Herbs and Serve: Stir in the chopped fresh cilantro. Serve the Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh cilantro, if desired.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
You’ll fall head over heels for this Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine, primarily because of its incredibly rich and creamy sauce, a delightful twist on classic butter chicken, infused with a hint of smoky, savory cowboy flavor. It’s a fantastic way to save money and impress your family with a homemade meal that rivals restaurant-quality dishes, all without breaking the bank. The clever combination of tender chicken, perfectly cooked linguine, and the subtle kick of spices makes this dish a true standout, offering a comforting yet exciting culinary experience.
This dish is significantly easier and faster to prepare than many traditional cowboy-inspired meals, offering a more sophisticated flavor profile than a simple chicken Alfredo yet retaining that cozy, familiar feeling. It’s a weeknight hero that proves you don’t need complex steps or expensive ingredients for an exceptional meal. Don’t just take our word for it – grab your apron and give this incredible Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine a try this week!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Properly store your delicious Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine to enjoy it for days to come.
- Refrigeration: Once the dish has cooled to room temperature, transfer any leftovers to an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: To reheat individual portions, place them in a microwave-safe dish and heat on medium power, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. For a stove-top reheat for larger portions, gently heat the linguine in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or milk if the sauce appears too thick.
- Freezing: While freezing isn’t ideal for pasta dishes as it can affect the texture, you can freeze the chicken and sauce mixture separately if necessary. Cool completely, then portion into freezer-safe bags or containers. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Final Thoughts
This Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine truly has it all: comfort, flavor, and ease. Give this fantastic recipe a go, and you’ll discover your new go-to for delicious, satisfying meals that are surprisingly simple to make.
try also :
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Bites
- Matcha Cake Recipe
- find more in Pinterest
Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the linguine and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining. Drain the linguine and set aside.12 ounces linguine pasta
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown on all sides and cooked through (about 5-7 minutes). Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. Don’t worry about cleaning the skillet; those browned bits are flavor!1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, 2 tablespoons olive oil, Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped yellow onion to the same skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. If using, add the chopped green bell pepper or jalapeño and cook for another 2-3 minutes until slightly tender.1 large yellow onion, 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper or jalapeño
- Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the skillet. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- Stir in the smoked paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Cook for another 30 seconds, stirring, to toast the spices and release their aromas. Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Let the tomato mixture simmer gently for about 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to slightly reduce.
- Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Continue to stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained linguine to the sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are evenly coated in the luscious sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water, a little at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, 12 ounces linguine pasta
- Stir in the chopped fresh cilantro. Serve the Easy Cowboy Butter Chicken Linguine immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh cilantro, if desired.2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese