Description
Tender chicken pieces cooked in butter with shallots, garlic, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes, combined with linguine tossed in a creamy sauce made from heavy cream, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese, garnished with fresh parsley and chives.
Ingredients
1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2¾ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
5 tablespoons salted butter, divided
12 ounces uncooked linguine pasta
2 large shallots, finely chopped (about ¾ cup)
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lemon zest plus 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided
⅔ cup heavy whipping cream
½ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley, divided
2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
Instructions
Sprinkle chicken with ½ teaspoon salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook chicken 6-8 minutes until browned and cooked through; set aside without wiping pan.
Cook linguine according to package for al dente in salted water; reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain pasta.
Melt remaining ¼ cup butter in skillet over medium-high heat; add shallots, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt; cook 5 minutes until softened.
Add garlic; cook 1 minute more. Stir in lemon juice and zest; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Add cream; simmer, stirring frequently for 5 minutes until thickened. Stir in Parmesan until melted and smooth.
Return chicken to skillet; add 1 tablespoon parsley and chives.
Add cooked linguine; reduce heat to low, stir in ¼ cup reserved pasta water, toss until pasta coated and warmed, cooking 2-3 minutes more. Add more pasta water to loosen sauce if needed.
Serve sprinkled with remaining parsley.
Notes
Use fresh lemon juice and zest for brightness.
Don’t overcrowd pan for even browning.
Gradually add pasta water for perfect sauce consistency.
Fresh herbs enhance flavor and color.
Rest sauce on low heat to thicken before adding pasta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 650
- Fat: 38
- Saturated Fat: 23
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 40
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken pasta, creamy chicken linguine, lemon butter chicken pasta, smoky spicy chicken pasta