Description
A quick and delicious weeknight meal featuring bowtie pasta, tender chicken, and vibrant broccoli tossed in a lemony cowboy-butter sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups bowtie pasta (farfalle)
- 1 pound chicken breast, cubed
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, juiced and zested
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook bowtie pasta until al dente, following package time. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, pat the cubed chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add half the butter to the hot skillet. Add the chicken in a single layer and sear until golden and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes, stirring once. Remove chicken to a plate.
- In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter. Add minced garlic and cook 30–45 seconds until fragrant — don’t let it brown.
- Add lemon zest and lemon juice to the butter. Stir to combine and scrape any browned bits from the pan. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
- Add broccoli florets and a splash of the reserved pasta water. Cover and steam 2–3 minutes until broccoli is bright and just tender.
- Return the chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss to coat. If the sauce needs loosening, add more reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until you reach a silky consistency.
- Finish with chopped parsley and a final squeeze of lemon if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
For a dairy-free option, replace butter with olive oil. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: chicken, pasta, cowboy butter, lemon, weeknight dinner