Description
Elevate weeknights with Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken Pasta! Tender chicken, vibrant broccoli, and farfalle bathed in zesty, garlicky butter. A family favorite.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: 1.5 lbs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- Farfalle (bowtie) pasta: 12 ounces
- Fresh broccoli florets: 3 cups
- Unsalted butter: 1/2 cup (1 stick)
- Fresh garlic: 4 cloves, minced
- Lemon: 1 large, juiced and zested
- Chicken broth: 1 cup
- Smoked paprika: 1 teaspoon
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the farfalle pasta according to package directions in a large pot of salted water. During the last 3-4 minutes of cooking, add the fresh broccoli florets to the boiling pasta water. Drain the pasta and broccoli well, then set aside.
- Step 2: While the pasta cooks, season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil (or 1 tablespoon of the butter) over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Step 3: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 1/2 cup unsalted butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and smoked paprika. Sauté for 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Step 4: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Stir in the fresh lemon zest and lemon juice. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, tossing to coat it in the flavorful sauce.
- Step 5: Add the drained pasta and broccoli to the skillet with the chicken and sauce. Toss everything together until thoroughly combined and heated through. Serve immediately, optionally garnished with fresh parsley or grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Store any delicious leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to enjoy later.
- When reheating, gently warm your pasta on the stovetop with a splash of chicken broth or water to bring back its creamy texture and prevent dryness, or microwave until just heated through.
- For an extra burst of freshness and savory delight, garnish your servings with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or some grated Parmesan cheese.
- Don't forget to thoroughly scrape up all those browned bits (fond) from the bottom of the skillet when adding the broth, as they are packed with rich flavor that makes the Cowboy Butter sauce truly shine!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 720
- Sodium: 1150mg
- Fat: 55g
- Saturated Fat: 28g
- Trans Fat: 0.8g
- Protein: 5g