Description
A flavorful and easy chicken dinner featuring tender chicken, vibrant broccoli, and bowtie pasta tossed in a zesty, creamy cowboy butter sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
- 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
- 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for topping)
Instructions
- Step 1: Boil a large pot of salted water. Add bowtie pasta and cook until al dente. In the last three minutes, add broccoli florets. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Step 2: Season chicken with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and cook chicken until golden brown and cooked through (6-7 minutes). Remove chicken from skillet.
- Step 3: In the same skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Sauté minced garlic for 1-2 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, zest, parsley, and chives.
- Step 4: Add pasta, broccoli, and chicken back to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce. Add reserved pasta water if needed for creaminess. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted.
- Step 5: Serve warm with extra Parmesan, fresh parsley, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Notes
Adjust Cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes to suit your spice preference. You can swap broccoli for asparagus or peas. For a richer sauce, increase the amount of butter and Parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 880 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: chicken pasta, cowboy butter, lemon chicken, broccoli pasta, easy dinner, family meal