Name: Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken with Broccoli
Ingredients: 1 pound bowtie (farfalle) pasta; 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces; 3 cups broccoli florets; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon lemon zest; 1 teaspoon paprika; ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional); 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste); ½ teaspoon black pepper; ¼ cup chicken broth or pasta water; ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese; Optional garnish: chopped parsley, extra lemon wedges

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound bowtie (farfalle) pasta
1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 cups broccoli florets
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ cup chicken broth or pasta water
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Optional garnish: chopped parsley, extra lemon wedges

Instructions

Step 1:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the bowtie pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Add broccoli during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.

Step 2:

Season the chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, and paprika. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 3:

Add the chicken to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.

Step 4:

Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, add the remaining butter and minced garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, then stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.

Step 5:

Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the cooked pasta and broccoli along with chicken broth or reserved pasta water. Toss everything together until well coated. Sprinkle with Parmesan, adjust seasoning, and serve immediately.

Notes

Cowboy butter sauce cooks quickly, so keep the heat at medium once the garlic is added. Overheating can cause the butter to separate or the garlic to burn, which affects the flavor.