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A close-up of Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken Pasta with Broccoli in a black bowl, garnished with parsley.

Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken Pasta with Broccoli

A flavorful pasta dish featuring chicken, broccoli, and a rich cowboy butter sauce.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 12 ounces Bowtie pasta
  • 1 tablespoon Salt for pasta water
For the Chicken and Broccoli
  • 1 pound Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Salt for chicken
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper for chicken
  • 2 cups Broccoli florets
For the Cowboy Butter Sauce
  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup Heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh parsley chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon Red pepper flakes optional

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Large skillet
  • Colander

Method
 

  1. Cook the bowtie pasta according to package directions in a large pot of salted boiling water. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  3. Add the broccoli florets to the same skillet. Add about 1/4 cup of water, cover, and steam for 3-4 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Remove broccoli from skillet.
  4. Reduce the skillet heat to medium-low. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
  5. Stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, chopped parsley, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook, stirring, until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Return the cooked chicken and broccoli to the skillet with the sauce. Add the drained bowtie pasta. Toss everything together until well combined. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
  7. Serve immediately.

Notes

You can add other vegetables like bell peppers or spinach to this dish. For a spicier kick, increase the red pepper flakes.

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