Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken and crisp broccoli bowtie pasta in zesty cowboy butter lemon sauce for a satisfying weeknight meal.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Pasta & Vegetables

02 - 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
03 - 3 cups broccoli florets
04 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Cowboy Butter Lemon Sauce

05 - 6 tbsp unsalted butter
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 lemon, zested and juiced
08 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
09 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
11 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
12 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
13 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Finish

15 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
16 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - Cook the bowtie pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions. Add broccoli florets during the last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - Heat 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, season with salt and black pepper, and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add remaining butter. Sauté red onion and garlic for 2 minutes until soft and fragrant.
04 - Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
05 - Return cooked chicken, pasta, and broccoli to the skillet. Toss everything to coat in the cowboy butter lemon sauce. Add reserved pasta water as needed for a silky sauce.
06 - Stir in chopped parsley, chives, and half the Parmesan. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Serve immediately, garnished with remaining Parmesan, extra herbs, and lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce hits every flavor button: tangy lemon, smoky paprika, and just enough heat to make things interesting
  • One pot, 45 minutes, and you have dinner that tastes like it came from a restaurant with table service
02 -
  • I once forgot to reserve the pasta water and the sauce turned out way too thick, so do not skip that step
  • The cowboy butter sauce can separate if the heat is too high, so keep it at a steady medium when adding the lemon juice
03 -
  • Rotisserie chicken works in a pinch if you want to skip the cooking step
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of buying pre-grated, it melts so much better into the sauce

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