Description
A delightful dish featuring tender chicken, vibrant broccoli, and pasta enveloped in a rich, buttery sauce with a zesty kick from lemon.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil (for cooking chicken)
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter (for the sauce)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for topping)
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (to adjust sauce consistency)
Instructions
- Boil salted water and cook bowtie pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside, reserving some pasta water.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season chicken with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the broccoli florets and cook for another 3-4 minutes until bright green and tender but still crunchy.
- Lower the heat, add butter, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and zest. Stir in grated Parmesan and a splash of reserved pasta water, simmering lightly.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat in the sauce, adding more reserved pasta water as needed.
- Stir in fresh parsley and chives right before serving, adjusting seasoning to taste.
Notes
For a Mediterranean twist, swap in olives and sun-dried tomatoes. Feel free to add cream for a creamier sauce or adjust the spices to your preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: chicken, pasta, broccoli, family dinner, quick meal