Description
Cowboy butter lemon bowtie chicken with broccoli brings garlicky, lemony butter sauce together with golden seared chicken, tender-crisp broccoli, and adorable bowtie pasta — all in one skillet in 30 minutes. Bold, buttery, and completely irresistible on a busy weeknight.
Ingredients
- 2 cups bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups broccoli florets, fresh or frozen (thaw and drain frozen first)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil and cook the bowtie pasta until just al dente per package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water before draining. Do not rinse the drained pasta.
2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and saute for 60 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
3. Season the cubed chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika. Add to the skillet in a single layer and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through. Work in batches if needed.
4. Toss the broccoli florets into the skillet and saute for 3 to 4 minutes until vibrant green and just tender-crisp.
5. Pour the fresh lemon juice over the chicken and broccoli and add the lemon zest. Stir and let sizzle for 30 seconds. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
6. Add the drained pasta and a splash of reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss everything together until well coated in the lemon butter sauce. Serve immediately in warm bowls with fresh parsley on top.
Notes
Do not rinse the pasta — the starch helps the butter sauce coat and cling to every shape.
Keep the broccoli bright green and tender-crisp — mushy broccoli ruins the texture of this dish.
Add reserved pasta water when tossing in the pasta to create a silkier, more cohesive sauce.
Serve immediately straight from the pan — pasta absorbs the sauce quickly as it sits.
Gluten-free swap: use certified gluten-free pasta such as chickpea or brown rice pasta.
Dairy-free swap: use high-quality vegan butter in place of regular butter.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American