Description

Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken is a quick, flavor packed pasta dinner with Cajun seasoned chicken, tender broccoli, and a bright lemon garlic butter sauce finished with Parmesan and fresh herbs. It is buttery, zesty, and easy enough for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces

1 tsp Cajun seasoning

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Kosher salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

2 tbsp olive oil

Cowboy butter lemon sauce

6 tbsp unsalted butter

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, optional

1 tsp Dijon mustard

Zest of 1 lemon

Juice of 1 lemon

2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped

Kosher salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

Pasta and broccoli

12 oz bowtie pasta farfalle

2 cups broccoli florets

1/2 cup reserved pasta water, more as needed

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add bowtie pasta and cook until al dente.

2. Add broccoli during the last 3 minutes of cooking. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.

3. Season chicken with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.

4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook chicken until browned and cooked through, then remove to a plate.

5. Reduce heat to medium. Melt butter in the same skillet and cook garlic until fragrant.

6. Stir in red pepper flakes, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir in parsley and chives, then season to taste.

7. Add pasta, broccoli, and chicken to the skillet. Toss, adding pasta water as needed to loosen and gloss the sauce.

8. Add Parmesan and toss until melted and creamy. Serve warm with extra Parmesan and lemon wedges.

Notes

Add broccoli in the last minutes so it stays bright and crisp tender.

Use reserved pasta water to help the sauce coat the pasta instead of turning oily.

For extra creamy sauce, add a small splash of heavy cream right before adding Parmesan.

Store leftovers in the fridge up to 3 days and reheat gently with a splash of water or broth.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups