Description

Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken with Broccoli is a flavorful, creamy pasta dish featuring tender bite-sized chicken pieces seasoned with Cajun spices, al dente bowtie pasta, and fresh broccoli florets. Tossed in a zesty lemon butter sauce enriched with garlic, Dijon mustard, fresh herbs, and Parmesan cheese, this one-pan skillet meal offers a perfect balance of spice, tang, and creaminess for a hearty dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tsp Cajun seasoning (adjust to spice preference)
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)
2 tbsp olive oil (for cooking chicken)

Pasta & Vegetables

12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
2 cups broccoli florets

Sauce

6 tbsp unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced (implied from sauce sauté step)
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
1/2 cup reserved pasta water (to adjust sauce consistency)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for topping)

Instructions

Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add bowtie pasta and cook until al dente. In the last 3 minutes of cooking, add broccoli florets to the boiling pasta. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and broccoli and set aside.
Season the Chicken: In a bowl, season the bite-sized chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper to taste.
Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 6-7 minutes, turning occasionally until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in crushed red pepper flakes (if using), Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix in chopped parsley and chives, and season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste.
Combine Ingredients: Return the cooked pasta, broccoli, and chicken to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together to coat evenly. Gradually add the reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a creamy sauce consistency.
Finish with Cheese: Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce becomes creamy and well combined.
Serve: Serve the dish warm, topped with extra Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and an optional squeeze of lemon juice for added brightness.

Notes

Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes to control the spice level.
Use fresh lemon zest and juice for the best flavor in the sauce.
Reserve pasta water carefully to help bind the sauce and maintain creaminess.
For a richer sauce, use unsalted butter to control saltiness.
Fresh herbs like parsley and chives add brightness and freshness to balance the creamy sauce.
Make sure not to overcook the broccoli; adding it during the last 3 minutes of pasta cooking keeps it crisp-tender.
Additional Parmesan cheese can be added when serving to enhance the cheesiness.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Cowboy Butter, Lemon Chicken, Bowtie Pasta, Broccoli, Cajun Chicken, Creamy Pasta, One-Pan Dinner, Garlic Butter Sauce