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Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken Pasta with Broccoli

A quick and bright pasta dish featuring chicken, broccoli, lemon, butter, and Parmesan mixed with bowtie pasta, perfect for a family meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb Chicken breasts, boneless skinless
  • 2 cups Broccoli florets
  • 12 oz Bowtie (farfalle) pasta
  • 6 tbsp Butter, unsalted
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/2 cup Reserved pasta water Set aside before draining pasta.
Seasonings
  • 1 tbsp Chives, fresh
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
  • 1 each Lemon, Juice and zest of
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 each Black pepper To taste
  • 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp Paprika, smoked
  • 1/2 tsp Red pepper flakes Adjust for spice preference
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil

Method
 

Cooking Pasta
  1. Cook the bowtie pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
Cooking Chicken
  1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, paprika, and red pepper flakes.
  2. Cook the chicken until golden and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes per side. Remove the chicken and let it rest.
Cooking Broccoli
  1. In the same skillet, add the broccoli and a splash of reserved pasta water. Cook until bright green and tender, about 3-4 minutes.
Combining Ingredients
  1. Slice the cooked chicken and return it to the skillet. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, chives, and parsley. Stir to combine.
  2. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together. If the mixture seems dry, add more reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
  3. Stir in the butter and grated Parmesan cheese until melted and well combined. Serve warm.

Notes

Pound chicken to even thickness so it cooks evenly. Do not skip the reserved pasta water; it helps the sauce stick to the pasta. Rest the cooked chicken 5 minutes before slicing to keep it juicy. Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the best bright flavor. Taste and adjust salt and pepper at the end.