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Cowboy Chicken Broccoli Butter Lemon Bowtie

A hearty, rustic pasta dish featuring spicy seasoned chicken, tender broccoli, and farfalle tossed in a glossy, rich lemon butter garlic sauce.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 640
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta & Veggies
  • 16 oz bowtie pasta (farfalle)
  • 2 cups fresh broccoli florets bite-sized
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large lemon juiced and zested
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley finely chopped
Cowboy Chicken
  • 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp coarse black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp crushed red pepper flakes adjust to taste
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes finely chopped
Lemon Butter Sauce
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter cut into cubes
  • 0.5 cup chicken broth low sodium
  • 0.25 cup pasta water reserved from boiling
  • 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese grated (optional)

Equipment

  • Large boiling pot
  • Large deep skillet
  • Colander
  • Whisk

Method
 

  1. Boil pasta in heavily salted water until al dente. Add broccoli florets during the last 3 minutes of cooking. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain pasta and broccoli.
  2. Toss chicken pieces with smoked paprika, black pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano, and salt.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet; sauté for 1 minute.
  5. Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
  6. Reduce heat to low. Whisk in butter cubes one at a time until emulsified into a smooth sauce. Stir in lemon zest.
  7. Return pasta, broccoli, and chicken to the skillet. Add reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously for 1-2 minutes until everything is heavily coated in the glossy sauce.
  8. Garnish with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Notes

Do not skip reserving the pasta water; the starch is crucial for thickening the butter sauce and making it stick to the pasta.