Description
Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken with Broccoli is a quick and flavorful pasta dish featuring juicy seasoned chicken, a rich garlic lemon butter sauce, and tender broccoli tossed with bowtie pasta. Perfect for busy weeknights, this easy one-pan meal delivers bold, comforting flavors in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Cowboy Butter Lemon Sauce:
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 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
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Pasta & Veggies:
- 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Extra Parmesan for topping
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta & Broccoli
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook bowtie pasta until al dente. Add broccoli during the last 3 minutes of cooking. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside. - Cook the Chicken
Season chicken with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 6–7 minutes until golden and fully cooked. Remove and set aside. - Make the Sauce
Lower heat to medium. Melt butter in the same skillet and scrape up browned bits. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in red pepper flakes, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and zest. Add parsley, chives, salt, and pepper. - Combine Everything
Return chicken to the skillet. Add pasta and broccoli. Toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Stir in Parmesan until melted and creamy. - Serve
Serve warm with extra Parmesan, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lemon if desired.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best melt and flavor.
- Don’t skip the pasta water—it creates a silky, restaurant-style sauce.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control spice level.
- Swap broccoli with spinach, zucchini, or asparagus if preferred.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg