Cowboy Butter Lemon Bow Tie Pasta with Chicken & Broccoli

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Craving a dinner that completely hijacks your senses from the very first bite? Picture tender, golden-brown chicken chunks tossed alongside vibrant green garden pieces, all swirled into a glossy, decadent garlic herb emulsion. It is the kind of skillet meal that stops your scrolling feed instantly because it looks just as heavenly as it tastes. When weeknight fatigue hits, settling for boring meals is out of the question—especially when you can build restaurant-quality richness on your own stovetop in no time.

Bringing together the flawless combination of fresh Broccoli Lemon elements yields a brightness that cuts perfectly through savory comfort. This recipe introduces the incredible depth of a zesty dipping condiment style sauce to your classic pasta rotation, manifesting as a glorious pan of Cowboy Butter Lemon Bow Tie Pasta. It is the ultimate method for making a completely foolproof skillet plate that satisfies the heaviest comfort cravings while keeping everything beautifully balanced with fresh greens.

Pro Tip: Always reserve your starchy noodle water before draining! Whisking a splash of it into the melted cowboy butter ensures the garlic, mustard, and cheese glossy fluid binds perfectly to every single ribbon element.

Building a plate of Chicken Broccoli Bowtie Pasta should never result in dry poultry or lackluster noodles. By searing your proteins quickly, you lock in all the natural juices before swirling everything into a compound emulsion that coats every individual pasta edge. If you have been searching for a family-favorite variation of Chicken Broccoli Bow Tie Pasta, this setup offers an addictive blend of smokiness, citrus zest, and sharp mustard undertones that completely redefines traditional comfort cooking.

Throwing together a stunning pan of Bow Tie Lemon Chicken Pasta is a wonderful way to diversify your standard routine. There are endless Chicken Bowtie Pasta Recipes floating around online, but few combine flawlessly cooked Sauteed Chicken with such an aggressive profile of herbs and citrus. This easy, high-protein weeknight choice will quickly beat out your ordinary Lemon Garlic Chicken With Bowtie Pasta variations, securing a permanent spot on your menu of preferred family Meat Dishes. Grasp your deep skillet and prepare to create a masterpiece!

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Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken with Broccoli

Irresistibly Juicy, Savory, and Tangy Skillet

★★★★★ 4.9 from 42 reviews

Prep15m

Cook20m

Total35m

Yield4 Serv

LevelEasy

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breasts, bite-size
• to taste salt
• to taste pepper
• 8 oz bowtie pasta
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 head lemon zest
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• to taste red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the bowtie pasta, cooking until al dente. Toss in the broccoli florets during the final three minutes, then drain and set aside, reserving 3/4 cup of pasta water.

2

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden brown, around 5-6 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate.

3

In the same skillet, add the unsalted butter along with the remaining olive oil. Once melted, stir in the minced garlic, cooking for about a minute until fragrant.

4

Add the lemon juice, zest, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, dried parsley, and crushed red pepper flakes if desired. Stir well, scraping the bottom of the pan to combine flavors. Return the chicken along with any juices.

5

Toss in the drained pasta and broccoli, then sprinkle the grated parmesan on top. If needed, add reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency. Adjust the seasoning as preferred.

6

Allow the mixture to cook together for about a minute, then plate and serve warm, delighting in the comforting aroma before digging in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is cowboy butter sauce? Cowboy butter is an ultra-savory, upgraded compound butter sauce. In this Cowboy Butter Lemon Bow Tie Pasta, it mixes melted butter with minced garlic, dijon mustard, smoky paprika, and fresh citrus elements to create a rich, complex coat over the poultry. How can I prevent the chicken from becoming tough or dry? The key to achieving perfectly succulent Sauteed Chicken is avoiding overcrowding in your pan. Cooking your cubed breast pieces on high heat for 5-6 minutes browns the outside beautifully while keeping the interior tender and juicy before it simmers in the sauce. Can I substitute alternative pasta shapes for this recipe? Certainly! While this dish is tailored as a beautiful Chicken Broccoli Bowtie Pasta, you can swap out the bowties for penne, rotini, or rigatoni. Any shape with ridges or pockets will capture the savory lemon garlic emulsion flawlessly.