Description
This Creamy Chicken Linguine recipe features tender cubed chicken breasts cooked to golden perfection and tossed with linguine pasta in a luscious, rich sauce made from butter, heavy cream, chicken broth, and Dijon mustard. Infused with garlic, smoked paprika, and a touch of heat from cayenne and red pepper flakes, this comforting dish is topped with fresh parsley, Parmesan cheese, and a hint of lemon juice for brightness. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner, it comes together in just 30 minutes and serves four.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Pasta
- 8 oz linguine pasta
Sauce
- 1 tbsp butter
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Boil linguine: Cook the linguine pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Cook chicken: Season the cubed chicken breasts with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chicken until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add garlic (if using fresh garlic, otherwise garlic powder is added during seasoning) along with chicken broth, heavy cream, Dijon mustard, and crushed red pepper flakes (optional). Simmer the mixture until it thickens slightly.
- Combine: Add the cooked chicken and linguine to the sauce. Toss everything to coat evenly. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and lemon juice. Adjust the sauce consistency by adding reserved pasta water if needed to loosen it.
- Serve: Garnish with additional fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve the creamy chicken linguine warm and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency and achieve a perfect creamy texture.
- Optional spices like cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper flakes add a nice touch of heat but can be omitted for a milder dish.
- For a richer flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese rather than pre-grated.
- Use fresh parsley for garnish to add color and freshness.
- This dish can be made gluten-free by substituting linguine with gluten-free pasta.
