Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken & Linguine: The Ultimate Weeknight Indulgence
A rich, buttery garlic cream sauce coats tender chicken and perfectly cooked linguine in this 25-minute comfort classic. It's a TikTok-trending recipe that delivers big flavor with minimal effort — perfect for weeknights or casual date nights.
Equipment
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Medium pot for pasta
- Tongs or wooden spoon
- sharp knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- to taste salt and black pepper
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder
- 3 tbsp butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 0.5 cup chicken broth
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- optional pinch of red pepper flakes
- 8 oz linguine
- 1 tbsp salt (for boiling pasta water)
- to garnish chopped parsley, extra Parmesan, lemon zest (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
- In a bowl, toss chicken with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high. Add chicken and cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- In the same pan, melt butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in cream, broth, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan until smooth.
- Return chicken to the pan, add cooked linguine, and toss everything together. Add a splash of pasta water to loosen if needed.
- Top with chopped parsley, lemon zest, and extra Parmesan before serving.
Notes
Reserve some pasta water before draining — it's perfect for loosening the sauce if needed. Add chili flakes for heat, lemon zest for brightness, or toss in baby spinach at the end for a touch of green.