Description
A creamy and flavorful weeknight dish featuring chicken, pasta, and a rich cowboy butter sauce with roasted garlic and smoked paprika.
Ingredients
Scale
- 680 g (1.5 lb) boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
- 113 g (8 tbsp) unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, minced (about 50 g / 1.8 oz)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp (5 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice, plus zest
- 240 ml (1 cup) heavy cream
- 120 ml (½ cup) low-sodium chicken stock
- 60 g (½ cup) finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 340 g (12 oz) linguine or fettuccine
- 15 g (¼ cup) chopped fresh parsley
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Season and rest the chicken: Pat the chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Let rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Cook the pasta: Bring salted water to a boil, add pasta, and cook until just shy of al dente (8-9 minutes). Reserve pasta water and drain.
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet and sear chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
- Make the cowboy butter base: Reduce heat, add butter, shallot, and garlic to the skillet. Sauté until translucent. Deglaze with chicken stock.
- Build the sauce: Whisk in heavy cream, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and Parmesan. Simmer until slightly thickened.
- Combine pasta and chicken: Slice chicken, add to skillet with pasta, and toss until coated and heated through.
Notes
For best flavor, use high-quality butter. Adjust seasoning to taste and add red pepper flakes for extra heat. Leftovers can be stored for 3-4 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing and Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 760
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 135mg