Description
A bright and buttery skillet meal featuring bowtie pasta, chicken, and fresh broccoli, ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups bowtie pasta
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, juiced and zested
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
- Optional: Red pepper flakes for heat
- Optional: Grated Parmesan to finish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook bowtie pasta until al dente, about 9–11 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, pat chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of oil and add the cubed chicken. Sear until golden and cooked through, about 4–6 minutes, then remove from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add the butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and cook for 30–45 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in lemon zest and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add broccoli florets to the skillet and toss, then cover for 2 minutes to steam until bright green and tender-crisp.
- Return the chicken to the pan, then add the cooked pasta. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Heat through for another minute.
- Remove from heat and stir in chopped parsley. Serve immediately with optional Parmesan or red pepper flakes.
Notes
For best texture, freeze chicken and pasta separately from broccoli if freezing leftovers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: bowtie pasta, chicken, broccoli, skillet meal, cowboy butter